Turkish President cancels Sweden visit due to health

Turkish President Abdullah Gul has cancelled a planned visit to Sweden on health grounds following his hospitalisation for an ear infection, Sweden said on Tuesday. "The state visit of Turkish President Abdullah Gul... which was due to take place in Sweden from September 10 to 12, was cancelled because of the president's health problems," the Swedish foreign ministry said in a statement. Discussions were under way to set a new date for the visit, a Swedish foreign ministry spokesman said. Gul was hospitalised with an ear infection on Friday, the day after he cut short a trip to Kyrgyzstan for health reasons. Gul has previously been treated for the same condition and had to cut short or postpone foreign trips because flying can cause problems for weak eardrums.