Havel in hospital with lung infection

Havel has battled repeatedly with poor health

Czech President Vaclav Havel has been admitted to hospital, a day after being forced to cancel a trip through ill health.

The 65-year-old president's doctor said his chronic bronchitis had been made worse by a viral infection in one lung, and he was now being given antibiotics.

"If everything goes well, the president could be released from hospital by the end of the week," said Doctor Ilja Kotik.

The president's spokesman blamed recent cold weather for the illness.

Mr Havel has suffered repeated health problems in recent years, including lung cancer, a ruptured intestine and pneumonia.

Havel's health

Dec 96 - lung cancer

Nov 97 - pneumonia

April 98 - intestinal surgery, lung blockage, tracheotomy

July 98 - intestinal surgery

Aug 98 - heart problem

Feb 2000 - hospitalised with flu

March 2000 - stomach virus, bronchitis

June 2000 - hernia

Nov 2000 - pneumonia

Feb 2001 - bronchitis

Sept 2001 - irregular heart

Only last month he needed hospital treatment to correct an irregular heart beat.

On Monday it was announced that a visit to Milovice in Bohemia, which had been scheduled for Tuesday, was being cancelled.

Mr Havel's heart problems in September forced him to cancel visits to Italy and Malta.

His heartbeat had jumped to around 140 beats per minute, twice its normal rate. Doctors released him afer three days of treatment.

The president had another spell in hospital earlier this year, when he had to be flown home from a visit to Kuwait after contracting bronchitis.

Ex-prisoner

Mr Havel, who was a heavy smoker for many years, spent five years in prison under the former communist regime in Czechoslovakia.

He was elected president of Czechoslovakia in December 1989 after the "Velvet Revolution" which overthrew the communists.

His second and final term in office ends in 2003.