French authorities say President Jacques Chirac is being treated at a Paris hospital for a vision problem. He is expected to remain hospitalized for about a week.
A statement issued at the Val de Grace military hospital where the president is staying says Mr. Chirac, 72, was admitted Friday "for a minor vascular incident that led to a slight vision disorder."
No further details of the vision disorder were disclosed, but the official statement said the president's ailment "should be over within a few days." His staff has confirmed, however, that all his appointments have been canceled for the next week.
Mr. Chirac is due to travel to New York later this month for the annual U.N. General Assembly session. He also is scheduled to take part in an open meeting of the leaders of all Security Council member nations on September 14.
The Security Council members are expected to urge the world's nations to stop inciting terrorism and other extremist ideologies, and to strengthen the United Nations' ability to prevent regional conflicts, especially in Africa.
Some information for this report provided by AFP, AP, Bloomberg and Reuters.
