Heart op for former US President Clinton

Bill Clinton underwent heart surgery today, an aide to the former US president said.

Mr Clinton has had two stents placed in one of his coronary arteries.

Aide Douglas Band said Mr Clinton was admitted to New York Presbyterian Hospital after experiencing chest discomfort.

He said that, after seeing his heart doctor, Mr Clinton underwent the procedure to place the stents in the artery.

Mr Band said the ex-president was in good spirits.

Mr Clinton had quadruple bypass surgery in 2004 to open four blocked arteries.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton left Washington and was heading to New York to be with her husband.

Aides to Mrs Clinton said she left the capital shortly after meeting President Barack Obama at the White House ahead of a planned trip to the Persian Gulf that was to begin tomorrow.

The aides said it was not yet clear if her travel to Qatar or Saudi Arabia would be affected by her husband's condition.