Tudjman Has Emergency Surgery

President Franjo Tudjman underwent emergency surgery late Monday to repair a perforation in his large intestine, his doctors announced.

Tudjman, who has long been rumored to be suffering from stomach cancer, was rushed to a Zagreb hospital in the afternoon after complaining of stomach pain, according to a statement by chief physician Dr. Branimir Jaksic.

Doctors decided to operate on the 77-year-old leader after tests indicated a “perforated diverticulum of the large intestine,” the statement added.

“The surgery was executed without complication and the president is feeling well,” the statement said.

Tudjman underwent medical treatment in Washington in 1996 for what U.S. sources said at the time was stomach cancer. Tudjman denied suffering from cancer.