Egypt president to undergo gall bladder surgery

CAIRO - Egyptian President Hosny Mubarak is scheduled to undergo gall bladder surgery Saturday in Germany, state media reported.

Egyptian state television had announced Thursday that Mubarak, who was in Berlin for talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, would travel Friday to Heidelberg, Germany, to undergo medical tests and treatment for pain in his gall bladder.

Mention of the medical tests was dropped from subsequent television news reports in Egypt, where public discussion of the 81-year-old president’s health is considered sensitive.

Prime Minister Ahmad Nazif will temporarily assume Mubarak’s responsibilities during the surgery, state media said.

Mubarak went to Germany in 2004 for back surgery.