Kevin Rudd in hospital for operation

Former prime minister Kevin Rudd is in hospital for an operation after being felled
with serious stomach pains but has promised he will re-emerge on the campaign trail
in full support of his leader Julia Gillard.
He is expected to spend the next couple of days in hospital after undergoing an
operation to remove his gall bladder on Friday.
In what appears to be a thaw in relations between Mr Rudd and his successor, the
former Labor leader said he was looking forward to campaigning outside his own
electorate in coming weeks.
Mr Rudd experienced acute abdominal pain on Thursday and underwent a series of
medical tests on Thursday night and Friday morning, he said in a statement.
On specialist advice, he was admitted to the Mater Private Hospital around noon on
Friday.
He is undergoing an operation on his gall bladder.
Mr Rudd's doctors had advised he was likely to be in hospital for a couple of days
before being allowed home, the statement said.
But in a pointed reference to criticism he was being sidelined by Labor, the
statement said: "Mr Rudd looks forward to resuming campaign activities next week
both in his own electorate, elsewhere in Queensland and the rest of the country as
appropriate in support of the re-election of the government and prime minister
Gillard."
Speaking to reporters in Perth, Ms Gillard wished Mr Rudd well and a speedy recovery.
Ms Gillard said she understood Mr Rudd looked forward to joining Labor's campaign
efforts when he recovered.
"That is for the future - what is for now is to wish him all the best as he enters
hospital ... for a speedy recovery over the next few days," she said.
"I welcome his indication that when he is well again he will be happy to campaign
for the re-election of the Gillard government ... and I would welcome his
campaigning efforts."
She earlier told reporters Mr Rudd's wish was to focus on his seat of Griffith.
Ms Gillard said she hoped everyone would respect the Rudd family's privacy.
Mr Rudd's wife Therese Rein also underwent surgery for a gall stone problem in
January 2008 which she first experienced as a teenager.
And in August last year she was admitted to Cairns Base Hospital with stomach pains.
The electoral commission on Friday formally declared Mr Rudd a candidate in Griffith.
He drew the last position on the ballot paper.
A spokesman for Mr Rudd said there would be no further update on the former prime
minister's condition unless it was considered necessary and in the public interest.