Belgian PM undergoes minor heart surgery

Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt underwent heart surgery yesterday after suffering chest pains, the surgeon who oversaw the operation said. Renaat Peleman of Ghent university hospital told reporters the minor operation involved widening an...

Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt underwent heart surgery yesterday after suffering chest pains, the surgeon who oversaw the operation said.

Renaat Peleman of Ghent university hospital told reporters the minor operation involved widening an artery.

He said Mr Verhofstadt would stay in hospital until tomorrow to recover from the operation, which took less than a hour.

Mr Verhofstadt, 51, cut short his Easter holiday in Tuscany after suffering heart pains, flying back to Brussels earlier yesterday.

It is the second time Mr Verhofstadt was treated in hospital during his term in office.

Last September, he was treated for two broken ribs after his chauffeur-driven car ran off the road on the way home.

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