Opposition Leader Alfred Sant was reported to be stable yesterday but in need of absolute rest for the next 10 days or so after a successful three-and-a-half-hour operation.

Surgeon Anthony Zammit said in a short press conference following surgery that the procedure had gone as planned and that Dr Sant was stable.

Mr Zammit gave no details on the nature of the operation itself - which he termed as a major operation.

After his statement, Mater Dei Hospital's superintendent, Frank Bartolo, who introduced the press conference, said no questions would be taken. Labour's general secretary, Jason Micallef, who was also present for the press conference, also said no questions would be taken.

The scant medical information issued yesterday did very little, if anything, to allay speculation sparked off by the party's surprise announcement on Wednesday that Dr Sant would be undergoing surgery. Indeed, speculation grew after the successful operation.

Mr Zammit insisted that the Opposition Leader now needs absolute rest and that no visitors will be allowed.

Messages of solidarity kept rolling in throughout the day.

The Speaker of the House, Anton Tabone, wished Dr Sant a speedy recovery in a letter that was also circulated to the press.

Shortly after the news broke about the operation, the President, the Prime Minister, Alternattiva Demokratika and a number of constituted bodies issued messages expressing solidarity with Dr Sant and his family. The President spoke to Dr Sant over the phone on Wednesday afternoon.

The Labour Party yesterday thanked the medical staff taking care of Dr Sant, particularly Mr Zammit, Joseph Zarb Adami and Mario Vassallo, a gastroenterologist - a specialist of the digestive tract, who assisted Dr Sant in the past days. "The Labour Party is thankful for the wave of solidarity and support being shown to Dr Sant and his family right now," the party said in a statement signed by Mr Micallef.

Charles Mangion is Acting Opposition Leader.