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Born in 1862?
Lebanese man enjoys yogurt and cigarettes
May 13, 1997
Web posted at: 7:53 p.m. EDT (2353 GMT)From Correspondent Brent Sadler
QINIEH, Lebanon (CNN) -- In the remote hills of northern Lebanon, time seems to stand still. And for Ali Mohammed Hussein -- aged 135 -- that's the way it's been for more decades than he can remember.
Strolling along an uneven road, he offers a word of caution to a visitor. "Watch your step," he says.
(928K/24 sec. QuickTime movie)
Ali may easily be the oldest person in the world, born, friends and relatives say, in 1862.
He's seen quite a lot since then. The emergence of the automobile and the airplane have all taken place in Ali's lifetime.
He lives in a stone hovel where he eats a daily plate of bread and yogurt, nothing artificial.
Ali's one conspicuous vice: cigarettes. He smokes like a chimney.
Having outlived his first wife he married again, to Amsha, a comparatively young woman of 80.
His family is huge, perhaps 93 descendants. They've lost count.
His sight is poor, but his humor sharp. His nickname, Ali Al Zolem, means very strong man, his grandson says. Anyone who shakes his hand can verify the name is apt.
During an interview, he hums instead of talks. He curses his son for mumbling.
The family watches with bemused smiles. But suddenly he's contrite.
"When young I was naughty," he says. "I liked women and bad things."
Ali Mohammed Hussein doesn't know or care if he's 135 or not, and while he's an official living legend here, his grand old age is not recognized outside Lebanon.
The Guinness book or records won't accept the claim. Lebanon kept no systematic files before 1932, when he was presumably 70.
With no birth certificate, there's no official world record.
But that might change if family and friends can arrange a DNA test to pinpoint his age.
In the meantime, Ali Mohammed keeps plodding along, taking life in his stride -- as he's always done.
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