Thailand\'s king Bhumibol, 81, hospitalized

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BANGKOK Thailand''s 81-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej spent his 12th day in a Bangkok hospital Wednesday with what the palace obliquely called a second bout of low fever and inflammation in his lungs.

Bhumibol, the world''s longest-serving monarch, was hospitalized Sept. 19 for fever, fatigue and lack of appetite. Since then, the palace has released almost daily updates on his condition without saying what is causing the symptoms.

After being hospitalized four days, the king''s temperature returned to normal on Sept. 22 but then returned several days later, according to the palace.

"His overall condition has improved," the Royal Household Bureau said in its latest statement Tuesday evening, which raised new questions by noting a lung condition. "The fever is lower. A chest X-ray found that lung inflammation has reduced."

The brief statement said that a medical team would continue to give the king antibiotics and nutrients intravenously as it has since his arrival.

Thousands of well-wishers have crowded outside Bangkok''s Siriraj Hospital and events have been organized around the country in honor of the king.

The king''s health is an extremely sensitive topic in Thailand because of concerns that the succession may not go smoothly. The heir apparent, his son, Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn, does not yet have the stature or moral authority of his father.

In October 2007, the king suffered the symptoms of a minor stroke. Last year, he was unable to make his traditional annual birthday speech. His daughter, Princess Sirindhorn, said he was weak and suffering from bronchitis and inflammation of the esophagus.

Bhumibol is a constitutional king with no formal political role, but he has repeatedly brought calm in times of turbulence and is considered the country''s moral authority and a unifying figure.

He has reigned through a score of governments, democratic and dictatorial. In his six decades on the throne, he has taken an especially active role in rural development and is respected for his dedication to helping the country''s poor.

Bhumibol is revered by most Thais, but in recent years the palace has come in for unprecedented, though usually discreet, criticism because of allegations that the king''s advisers interfered in politics, including playing a part in inspiring a 2006 military coup that ousted a democratically elected government.