Kennedy back home after surgery

Mr Kennedy is an influential backer of presidential hopeful Barack Obama

US Senator Edward Kennedy has returned home after undergoing surgery for a cancerous brain tumour.

The Massachusetts senator, 76, was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour last month following a seizure.

Doctors said they were pleased with the senator's progress following last week's operation to remove the tumour, known as a glioma.

The youngest brother of assassinated President John F Kennedy now faces chemotherapy and radiation treatment.

"He is thankful for the extraordinary care of the doctors and nurses at Duke, and also for the continued prayers and well wishes from the people of Massachusetts and all over the country," a spokesman for the senator said.

Powerful clan

Doctors diagnosed a malignant glioma in the left parietal lobe after Mr Kennedy was admitted to hospital in mid-May.

The second longest-serving member of the Senate, Mr Kennedy has been an active supporter of Senator Barack Obama in his fight to be the Democratic choice to run for US president.

EDWARD MOORE KENNEDY 1932 Born, youngest of nine siblings 1962 Becomes country's youngest senator 1963, 1968 Brothers President John F Kennedy and Senator Robert F Kennedy both assassinated 1969 "Chappaquiddick incident" - Kennedy flees scene after road crash in which his young female passenger dies 1980 Runs unsuccessfully for Democratic nomination against sitting President Jimmy Carter Profile: 'Teddy' Kennedy What is Kennedy's diagnosis?

Mr Kennedy was first elected senator for Massachusetts in November 1962 - shortly after turning the requisite 30 years of age - to replace his brother, who had been elected president in 1960.

Since then he has been re-elected seven times.

Born into a rich and powerful Irish-American Catholic family, the son of Joseph Kennedy, Edward "Teddy" Kennedy became the head of the clan after the deaths of his three elder brothers.

The eldest, Joseph Jr, was killed while flying a bomber during World War II.

John was assassinated while president in 1963, and Robert was shot dead while running for president in 1968.

Edward ran for the Democratic nomination against sitting President Jimmy Carter in 1980, but failed, after struggling to put the infamous "Chappaquiddick incident" behind him.

He had, in 1969, crashed a car off a bridge, and while he escaped, his passenger - Mary Jo Kopechne, aged 28 - drowned in the water below. He did not report the incident to police for more than eight hours.

He later pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident and received a suspended two-month prison sentence.

Mr Kennedy is the father of Congressman Patrick J Kennedy.