Papandreou undergoes tracheotomy

Athens - The Greek Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou, in hospital with pneumonia for 17 days, underwent a tracheotomy operation to help his breathing and his condition was described as stable.

The decision to perform the operation, which cuts a hole in the windpipe, signalled that Papandreou, 76, is likely to be on a life-support respirator for a long time. Reuter