French President Nicolas Sarkozy was recovering in the hospital Monday while doctors watched his heart function, a day after he collapsed while jogging in hot weather, his office said. Military doctors quickly performed a battery of tests on the 54-year-old president, who is known for his sportiness and activity. The presidential Elysee Palace said Sarkozy's test results were normal but that doctors would keep him overnight under cardiological observation. Patrick Devedjian, France's minister for economic recovery and a close friend of Sarkozy, said the French leader would be discharged from the Val de Grace military hospital on Monday. «He's leaving (the hospital) today. That proves that he is doing well,» Devedjian told RTL radio Monday. «We get the feeling that it's a little incident that could happen to anyone at some point in their life, above all when they are in tiring periods that can happen ... to anyone who works a lot.» French Sports Minister Rama Yade said she was alerted soon after the incident and was «told right away that it was minor and that it was not serious.» «There are some normal exams that are being done,» she told France-2 television on Monday, adding «we are reassured to know that he's well and will resume his activities.» On Monday, however, Sarkozy will be replaced by Finance Minister Christine Lagarde at a meeting with representatives of French banks, according to his agenda.
