Iraq president hospitalized by stroke

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Mike Segar / Reuters, fileIraq's President Jalal Talabani, seen here in September 2011, is in the hospital for a medical 'emergency'.Updated at 9:45 a.m. ET: BAGHDAD - Iraqi President Jalal Talabani -- a Kurd who has been a key player in mediating during the country's political crisis -- was in hospital on Tuesday after suffering a stroke that left him in "stable" condition, a lawmaker said.  

Three un-named government sources said he was in critical condition, but his office said the 79-year-old president was stable under intensive medical supervision after receiving treatment for blocked arteries.

Without  Talabani, Iraq would lose an influential peace-maker who often eased tensions in  the fragile power-sharing government and negotiated in the growing rift over oil  between Baghdad and the OPEC member country's autonomous Kurdistan region.

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