Peres is 'fine despite collapse'

Advertisement

Israeli President Peres taken to hospital

Aides to Israeli President Shimon Peres say he is fine despite collapsing briefly in Tel Aviv on Saturday.

Haaretz newspaper said the 86-year-old collapsed while standing at a lectern answering questions.

He was rushed to hospital, but was discharged on Sunday morning after tests showed nothing wrong, his spokeswoman Ayelet Frisch said.

Mr Peres has held numerous cabinet posts since the 1970s, including that of prime minister.

He was appointed president in 2007 for a seven-year term.

Ms Frisch blamed the busy official schedule maintained by Mr Peres for his collapse.

She said Mr Peres would go ahead with a meeting later on Sunday with US Middle East envoy George Mitchell.

'Hot and dizzy'

During Mr Peres's stay in hospital, his personal doctor Rafi Valdan told the Ynet news website that heat could have played a part in his collapse.

"It was simply very hot and he stood up for a long time and felt dizzy. He fainted for a few seconds."

He added that Mr Peres "feels fine, he's smiling, and he's on the phone with the whole world", Dr Valdan said.

Hospital director Zeev Rotshein said tests showed Mr Peres was in "very good health".

In June Mr Peres was tested for swine flu after receiving a group of young people from abroad who were later found to be infected.

Despite shaking the hands and hugging about 120 of the young people, Mr Peres was cleared of any infection.

Mr Peres was born in Poland in 1923.