Melbourne: Australia's former prime minister Kevin Rudd was on Friday admitted to hospital for a surgery to treat severe stomach pain.
A spokeswoman for 52-year-old Rudd, who is running for the Brisbane seat of Griffith in the August 21 federal election, said the former Labour leader had experienced acute abdominal pain yesterday.
He underwent a series of medical tests last night and this morning, she said.
"Based on specialist advice, he was admitted to the Mater Private Hospital today," the spokeswoman said.
"Rudd will have an operation to remove his gall bladder later today," she said.
According to media reports, Rudd's office released a statement stating that Rudd would be happy, upon his release, not just to campaign in his seat of Griffith but across Australia to help present Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
Rudd will have the operation later today, it said, adding his doctors advised him to be in hospital for a couple of days before returning home.
"Rudd looks forward to resuming campaign activities next week - both in his own electorate, elsewhere in Queensland and the rest of the country as appropriate – in support of the re-election of the government and Prime
Minister Gillard," it added.
PTI
First Published: Friday, July 30, 2010, 16:29