Palestinian president Abbas in hospital for heart test

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas was in hospital on Thursday for a heart test but the 81-year-old's health was reported to be normal, officials said.

"We have carried out all necessary tests, including a cardiac catheterisation, and the results are all normal," Said Sarahneh, director of the Istishari Hospital in Ramallah, told AFP.

"The president will leave the hospital within two hours," he said on Thursday afternoon.

Catheterisation involves the insertion of a thin tube into blood vessels.

Official Palestinian news agency WAFA, citing a presidency spokesman, confirmed Abbas was at the hospital for tests.

Palestine Liberation Organisation secretary general Saeb Erekat said tests so far confirmed Abbas was in good health.

The longtime Palestinian leader last week attended the funeral of Israeli ex-president and Nobel Peace Prize winner Shimon Peres.