Egyptian president undergoes back surgery in Germany

CAIRO, Egypt (AP) _ Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak underwent a successful back operation in Germany on Saturday, the health minister said. <br/><br/>Mohamed Awad Tag Eddin said in a national broadcast

Saturday, June 26th 2004, 9:56 am

By: News On 6

CAIRO, Egypt (AP) _ Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak underwent a successful back operation in Germany on Saturday, the health minister said.

Mohamed Awad Tag Eddin said in a national broadcast on state television that doctors in Munich, Germany, had operated on Mubarak, 76, to correct a slipped disk.

``A successful operation was carried out this morning for Mr. President,'' Tag Eddin said from Germany.

Dr. Michael Mayer, the surgeon in charge of the German medical team that performed the surgery, said: ``There were no complications or problems during the surgery.'' He added that Mubarak will be able to start to walk Sunday.

It has been rare for state media to report on Mubarak's health, but since going to Germany for back treatment, there have been regular updates broadcast apparently to reassure Egyptians that the president was not seriously ill.

In November, the president interrupted a speech to parliament for 30 minutes, suffering a cold and a slight drop in blood pressure. The interruption caused a brief political scare as Mubarak _ who has ruled Egypt since 1981 _ does not have a designated successor.

In early July, he is scheduled to appoint a new government.

Mubarak's wife, Suzanne, and sons Gamal and Alaa, accompanied the president to Germany. It was unclear when he would be able to return to Egypt.