ALBAWABA - Following a mild cerebral hemorrhage from a fall at home, Brazilian President Luiz Lula da Silva canceled his journey to Russia for the BRICS meeting on Sunday.
Following medical advice to temporarily avoid long-haul flights, Lula will participate via videoconference, according to a statement from the presidential office. His original departure time was set for Sunday at 5 p.m.
In an interview with GloboNews TV, Lula's physician, Roberto Kalil, stated that the president had a "small brain hemorrhage" in the temporal-frontal area as a consequence of a fall that left the back of his skull "greatly" damaged, necessitating sutures.
Lula sustained a cut to the "occipital region" on the back of his head on Saturday, according to a medical report released earlier on Sunday by the Sirio Libanes hospital in Brasília.
According to the article, Lula "is otherwise able to carry out his regular duties but was advised to avoid long-distance air travel."
The administration declared that the Brazilian delegation to the Brics conference will be led by Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, who will leave on Sunday.
Lula's Workers party president and lawmaker Gleisi Hoffmann claimed she had a conversation with the president and that "he is doing very well, just avoiding a long trip."
