BRITAIN: The British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, was back in Downing Street last night and reportedly "fine" following hospital treatment for an irregular heart beat.
Having been advised to rest for 24 hours, Number 10 confirmed that the prime minister will not give his scheduled Commons statement this afternoon on the European summit, which will instead be delivered by the Foreign Secretary, Mr Jack Straw.
However the prime minister's official spokesman told The Irish Times that there were no implications for renewed Anglo-Irish diplomacy ahead of this week's expected decision on elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly. Following his return from London's Hammersmith Hospital it is understood Mr Blair was brought up-to-date on the latest Sinn Féin/Ulster Unionist discussions. And the spokesman confirmed Mr Blair was ready to attend whatever meetings might be necessary, whether in London or Belfast, ahead of a decision which the Taoiseach, Mr Bertie Ahern, has indicated must come by Wednesday.
Mr Blair (50) spent about five hours with doctors after complaining of feeling "a little under the weather" while at Chequers. The prime minister was first taken to London's Stoke Mandeville hospital, though not by ambulance, and was then transferred to the Hammersmith, which has a specialist coronary care unit.
Having established that Mr Blair had an irregular heart beat which causes fluctuations and palpitations, doctors there carried out a procedure known as cardio conversion. A Downing Street spokesman said: "This was completely successful. He was in hospital for four to five hours and is now back at Number 10. The hospital says that this is a relatively common condition and is easily treated. He has suffered no damage and he is fine. There is no reason why this should reoccur. They have advised him to rest for 24 hours." The spokesman made clear that while Mr Straw would deliver the Commons statement Mr Blair plans to hold meetings throughout today.
Conservative leader Mr Iain Duncan Smith sent good wishes to Mr Blair, telling the Press Association: "I very much hope he makes a swift recovery and I send him and his family all best wishes at this difficult time." The Taoiseach sent his "warmest personal best wishes to the prime minister for a speedy recovery", his office said in a statement.