Gerald Ford suffers two strokes

Gerald Ford was admitted to hospital for a sinus complaint

Former United States president Gerald Ford has suffered two small strokes and has been admitted to a hospital in Philadelphia, where he has been attending the Republican party convention.

Mr Ford, 87, was admitted to Hahnemann University Hospital for what was described as a sinus infection and released a short time later. Several hours later he was readmitted.

Dr Robert Schwartzman, head of the hospital's neurology department, said the ex-president "probably had a little stroke a day or so ago... maybe two days ago and had another little one."

Mr Ford has been appearing at the Republican convention, where he was honoured on Tuesday along with former presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush.

Steady hand

Dr Schwartzman reported that Mr Ford's left arm was a bit weak and his speech was slurred but his thinking was perfect and the slurring was expected to go.

He was likely to stay in hospital for five or six days.

Only hours before entering hospital, Mr Ford had told a television interviewer than he could not be healthier.

Gerald Ford became president in 1974 on the resignation of Richard Nixon. He was seen as a steady hand on the tiller at a time of crisis but lost the presidency to Jimmy Carter in 1976.