Turkey's Erdogan Denies Rumors of Health Problems

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday denied rumors that he was sick and lashed out at the local media for disseminating false news.

"Thank God, I am doing quite well," Erdogan told reporters at Ankara airport before leaving for Turkmenistan.

Earlier this week, some local media reported that Erdogan had been hospitalized with an upset stomach but the 59-year-old prime minister dismissed the claims.

"I learn from you at which hospital I was taken to or what I did. I don't have any health problem," he said. "How come they make up such lies? They should be ashamed of themselves."

The Turkish strongman underwent two rounds of surgery on his intestines last year, leading to the speculation that he had cancer.

But his doctors had said polyps were taken out from his intestines and there had been no trace of cancer.