Sat, 06 Mar 2010 16:26:52 GMT
Alalam:
Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif temporarily took over the reins of government as President Hosni Mubarak on Saturday underwent surgery in Germany.

Mubarak issued a decree giving Nazif executive power until he returns to Cairo after consulting the constitution, Egyptian media reported.

"President Hosni Mubarak will undergo a surgical operation to extract the gall bladder in Heidelberg University hospital on Saturday," MENA new agency reported, adding that a medical examination on Friday confirmed "chronic infections in the gall bladder."

The agency published the president's decree handing power to Nazif until he returns to work.

"Prime Minister Dr. Ahmed Mahmud Mohammed Nazif assumes all the prerogatives of the president of the republic according to Article 82 of the constitution until he resumes his responsibilities," the decree said.

State television announced that Mubarak, 81, had suffered "gall bladder pain" while in Germany for talks on Thursday with Chancellor Angela Merkel.

It said the president was accompanied by his wife Suzanne Mubarak and members of his family.