Israel's Peres Undergoes Hernia Surgery

Israeli President Shimon Peres, 88, was admitted to hospital on Friday for what his spokeswoman called a "very, very simple" operation for a hernia.

Spokeswoman Ayelet Frish told Agence France Presse that during a five-day state visit to Canada this week Peres was diagnosed with a hernia and treated by his personal physician, who accompanied him on the trip.

"He completed the trip as scheduled but the doctor asked that on his return to Israel he should have surgery -- very, very simple surgery -- to correct it," she said.

A statement from Peres' office said the procedure would take place at Tel Aviv's Sheba hospital, and that he was expected to be discharged on Sunday.