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Brazil's President Lula taken ill Brazil's President Lula taken ill
(about 2 hours later)
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has spent the night in hospital after being taken ill with high blood pressure, Brazilian media report. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has cancelled his trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos after falling ill with high blood pressure.
Lula, 64, became ill after boarding a plane in the north-eastern city of Recife to fly to Davos in Switzerland for the World Economic Forum. President Lula, 64, became ill as he was about to fly from the north-eastern city of Recife to Davos in Switzerland.
Presidency officials said he had felt "tired and indisposed". He spent the night in hospital and will rest at home for the next few days.
Local media say Lula is expected to be discharged later in the day but may still require more medical tests. President Lula, who had been due to receive an award in Davos, was "exhausted" after an intense week, a presidential spokesman said.
Central Bank President Henrique Meirelles will travel to Davos to represent Brazil. Central Bank president Henrique Meirelles will travel to Davos to represent Brazil and accept the World Economic Forum's new Global Statesmanship Award on Lula's behalf.
President Lula had spent Wednesday in Recife, following a busy agenda. President Lula had spent Wednesday in Recife following a busy agenda.
The president had complained of a sore throat and a pain in his chest during the day and showed signs of high blood pressure as he was about to depart.The president had complained of a sore throat and a pain in his chest during the day and showed signs of high blood pressure as he was about to depart.
Mr Lula's personal doctor, Cleber Ferreira, who advised that he be taken to hospital, said: "I took the president off the plane. He didn't fly on doctors' orders, but right until the last minute he wanted to travel." His personal doctor, Cleber Ferreira, who advised that he be taken to hospital, said: "I took the president off the plane. He didn't fly on doctors' orders, but right until the last minute he wanted to travel."
Mr Lula was due to become the first head of state to receive the World Economic Forum's new Global Statesmanship Award. Doctors say the president recovered quickly after being taken to hospital but are advising he takes a few days' rest at his home in Sao Bernardo do Campo in Sao Paulo state.
Peanut sellerPeanut seller
President Lula is in the final year of his second four-year term - but despite high approval ratings has ruled out standing for a second re-election, which is anyway prohibited under the Brazilian constitution.President Lula is in the final year of his second four-year term - but despite high approval ratings has ruled out standing for a second re-election, which is anyway prohibited under the Brazilian constitution.
Following a landslide victory in 2002, he became the first leftist to hold the country's highest office in nearly half a century.Following a landslide victory in 2002, he became the first leftist to hold the country's highest office in nearly half a century.
The son of an illiterate peasant family, he had worked as a peanut seller and shoe-shine boy, only learning to read when he was 10 years old, before training as a metal worker and becoming a trade union activist.The son of an illiterate peasant family, he had worked as a peanut seller and shoe-shine boy, only learning to read when he was 10 years old, before training as a metal worker and becoming a trade union activist.
Mr Lula then helped found the Workers Party (PT) in 1980. He then helped found the Workers Party (PT) in 1980.