Brazil's Lula cancels Russia trip for BRICS summit after head injury

Brasilia, Brazil — 

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva connected Sunday canceled his travel to Russia for the BRICS summit, pursuing aesculapian proposal to temporarily debar long-haul flights aft hurting his caput successful an mishap astatine home.

In a statement, the statesmanlike bureau said Lula, 78, volition present enactment successful the BRICS gathering via videoconference. He was initially scheduled to depart astatine 5 p.m. connected Sunday.

According to a aesculapian study issued by the Sirio Libanes Hospital successful Brasilia, Lula suffered a laceration to the "occipital region" successful the backmost of his caput connected Saturday.

The study said Lula "was advised to debar long-distance aerial question but is different capable to transportation retired his regular duties."

The authorities said successful a station connected X that Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira has been designated to pb the Brazilian delegation successful the BRICS summit, departing aboriginal connected Sunday.

The diplomatic forum founded 15 years agone by large emerging markets Brazil, Russia, India, China has since expanded to see South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates.

Congresswoman Gleisi Hoffmann, president of Lula's Workers Party, posted connected societal media that she had spoken with the president and that "he is doing precise well, conscionable avoiding a agelong trip."