Or maybe not?

This morning, we were all told that the Zambian president, Levy Mwanawasa, had died. The news was published in several papers and articles. The South African president, Thabo Mbeki, even requested a moment of silence to remember him.

However, a few hours later, we began hearing rumors that the Zambian government was denying the president's death. As we scoured the internet for news to verify whether the president was alive or dead, even the BBC, generally considered the most reliable source for news, was unable to give us a definite answer about the president's health. Was the president dead and the government trying to buy time to develop a plan of action of how to proceed in his absense? Or was the president alive and stable and the news of his death only a rumor?

No one has been able to confirm whether or not the president is alive. The news is now reporting that the president is stable and will have a minor operation over the weekend to improve his breathing. Yet there is still no clear answer.