A top media official in Jalal Talabani’s office said the Iraqi President was responding hospital treatment and "improving hour after hour”.

A top media official in Jalal Talabani’s office said the Iraqi President was responding to hospital treatment and "improving hour after hour”.

"Thanks be to God, the president is in good condition and he is improving hour after hour," said Barzan Sheikh Othman, the spokesman said, adding that he is "receiving treatment and responding to it."

Talabani was admitted to hospital late on Monday after an emergency that state television reported was a stroke.

Media reports said the Iraqi President was dead in the hospital.

However his office denied directly with a statement from his office on Tuesday said that "bodily functions are normal and the health condition of the president is stable."

It said the emergency was due to arteriosclerosis.