President Basescu hospitalised for surgery

President Traian Basescu was admitted to the Elias Hospital yesterday where he was subjected to some tests and diagnosed with a herniated disk. The condition of the chief of state was checked by a team of physicians, headed by Sorin Oprescu, the manager of the Elias Hospital and of the Emergency University Hospital. Traian Basescu was scheduled for surgery at the University Hospital last night. Mediafax news agency reported Traian Basescu had gone to the University Hospital on Sunday evening, complaining about severe back pain. The CAT scan revealed he had a herniated disk, which required surgery. The Senate chairman, Nicolae Vacaroiu, the second top man of the state, said a transfer of power was out of the question. He added this could be possible only in case the President was unable to perform his normal duties for two to three weeks and not just a few hours. At the same time, the Presidential Administration yesterday announced the postponement of the visit to Romania of the President of the Republic of Finland, Tarja Halonen, as a result of the condition of President Basescu. ZF