French President Jacques Chirac was admitted to hospital for a week with eye trouble following a blood vessel problem, officials said today.
The 72-year-old French leader was admitted to a Paris hospital late last night and all his appointments for the coming week have been cancelled at his request, a spokeswoman for Chirac's office said.
Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin told reporters in southwest France he had spoken to Chirac on Saturday morning and believed the eye problems would clear up within a few days.
"He will stay in hospital for a week ... As soon as I get back to Paris late this afternoon, I will visit him at Val de Grace (military hospital)," Villepin told reporters at a ruling conservative party conference.