Indian PM Singh undergoes bypass surgery

(January 24, 2009) Doctors began coronary artery bypass surgery on India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday, but it was not clear about who was in charge of government just months before a general election. Local television said the surgery on the 76-year-old leader, began at 8:30 a.m. local time, could last six hours. Singh may be unable to return to work for at least several weeks. Doctors are due to give a briefing on the prime minister's condition at 6 p.m. local time. Some officials said Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee would take over most prime ministerial responsibilities, including defence, security and the finance portfolio, while Singh was recovering from the surgery. This is normal procedure as he is the most senior member of the cabinet, so there has been no official announcement. One expert said on Friday a new operation presented little risk for the prime minister. "There is 1 to 2 percent risk factor associated with a bypass surgery on a patient with a long history of cardiac problems. In neighbouring Bhutan, hundreds of Buddhist monks have begun special prayers for the Indian prime minister.