UPDATE - 'Turkish president on duty with great strength, health, vigor'

UPDATES WITH QUOTES FROM TURKISH HEALTH MINISTER

By Diyar Guldogan

ANKARA (AA) - Türkiye's communications chief on Thursday rebuffed baseless claims about the president’s health, stressing Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s robust condition and full capabilities.

"They (the opposition) are trying to gain political advantage through baseless distortions even about the health condition of our president. Our president is on duty with great strength, health, and vigor," Communications Director Fahrettin Altun told an event in Istanbul.

The nation stands with its leader, who works with "inexhaustible" effort, he added.

The claims came after Erdogan on Tuesday cut a live interview short due to an upset stomach.

"There was intense campaign work yesterday and today, and because of this campaign work, I had a stomach ailment," Erdogan explained on Tuesday.

The Communications Directorate's center for combating disinformation on Wednesday also hit back at the claims on some social media accounts that Erdogan "had a heart attack and was hospitalized," saying they did not reflect the truth.

Following dozens of campaign events ahead of Türkiye’s May 14 elections, on Wednesday Erdogan canceled his schedule to rest.

“I was with him (Erdogan) this morning ... He is in good health,” Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on Thursday.

"The effect of his gastroenteritis infection has decreased. He will resume his programs as soon as possible," Koca added.

Later on Thursday, Erdogan is due to virtually address the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant first nuclear fuel delivery ceremony.