Dewar takes post-op steps

Kenneth Davidson and Mr Dewar's spokesman David Whitton

Donald Dewar is continuing to make good progress in hospital following his heart operation.

The 62-year-old Labour politician has been undergoing gentle walking exercise as part of a planned physiotherapy programme.

Scotland's first minister watched the European Cup football semi-final on television on Wednesday night.

His surgeons are said to be pleased with the pace of his recovery at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, where he underwent a four-hour operation on Monday.

Mr Dewar has received many expressions of good wishes, including a letter from Tony Blair and one from an ex-miner in England, who described his own recovery from a similar operation.

Donald Dewar: Three months out

On Tuesday, the surgeon who performed the procedure to replace a leaking heart valve, said Mr Dewar was making a "particularly speedy" recovery.

Kenneth Davidson said the fault had been "quite severe" and it was important to operate quickly.

He described the operation as a success, and added there was no reason to think that Mr Dewar would require further surgery.

Mr Dewar is likely to be away from his job for at least three months.

Deputy First Minister and Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, Jim Wallace, has taken over at the Scottish Executive in his absence.

Mr Dewar was admitted to hospital on Sunday after routine tests last month uncovered the faulty aortic valve.

He has been visited by his son, Ian, and his daughter, Marion, who have been in Scotland since the weekend and are expected to stay in Glasgow for some time while the first minister recovers.