US Secretary of State Colin Powell has undergone surgery for prostate cancer and is expected to spend several days in the hospital before going home, the US State Department has said.
Mr Powell's surgery, which US officials said was scheduled some time ago and was not an emergency procedure, is bound to revive speculation about how long he may serve as secretary of state although an aide said it had no bearing on the matter.
"Secretary Powell is undergoing surgery this morning for prostate cancer," the State Department said in a statement, adding that the operation was being performed at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
Mr Powell, 66, was expected to be at the hospital for the next two to five days days before returning home and will be on a reduced schedule while he recovers from the operation, a senior State Department official said.