Mahathir too sick to visit Canada

Mahathir too sick to visit Canada

KUALA LUMPUR (DPA): Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has canceled an official visit to Canada next week because he is suffering from a cold, but will attend an annual summit of Asia- Pacific leaders in Vancouver later, news reports said yesterday.

The 71-year-old premier was quoted as saying he was calling off the official visit to recover from a cold, which might be aggravated by Canada's chilly climate.

He was to have visited Ottawa on Nov. 17 to Nov. 22 before heading off to Vancouver to attend the fifth Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.

Last month, Mahathir, who underwent a heart bypass operation nine years ago, canceled several functions locally as well as a planned two-day working visit to London because of flu.