French leader in hospital
2005-09-03 14:27
Paris - French President Jacques Chirac was hospitalised on Friday for one week, suffering from a slight vision problem following a "minor vascular incident", the Elysee Palce confirmed on Saturday.
"The president of the republic was hospitalised on Friday night at the Val de Grace hospital for a minor vascular incident that led to a slight vision disorder, which should be over within a few days," the military hospital in Paris said in a statement Saturday.
"The president of the republic is expected to remain hospitalised for about one week," the statement said.
Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, speaking to reporters at a summer conference of the ruling Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) party in La Baule on France's Atlantic coast, confirmed Chirac's hospitalisation.
Villepin said he had spoken to Chirac at length on Saturday, and intended to visit him in hospital later in the day.
"Naturally, we discussed the agenda of the coming days and in particular the offers of aid and assistance to our American friends faced with the terrible catastrophe that has struck the south of their country," Villepin said.
- AFP