Lula briefly hospitalized for blood pressure problem

After leaving a hospital in the Northeastern city of Recife, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will rest at home through Sunday, a presidential spokesman said Thursday.

President Lula was hospitalized earlier in the day for high blood pressure. He was released hours later. Doctors recommended rest for the president.

The spokesman said President Lula will fly from Recife to his home in Sao Bernardo do Campo, near Sao Paulo, where he will rest until Sunday.

The president will be back at his desk in Brasilia on Monday, the spokesman said. At no point during the next few days will the president take a leave-of-absence, the spokesman said.

The president canceled a trip to Davos, Switzerland, where he was due to attend the World Economic Forum. Central bank President Henrique Meirelles will represent Lula in Davos.

In a television interview, President Lula's doctor, Cleber Ferreira, said, "The general state of the president's health is good." Ferreira said the president will undergo routine medical tests while in Sao Bernardo. He did not specify which tests the president would undergo.

President Lula, a former labor union leader, enjoys all-time high popular support as the country's economy shows signs of recovery from recession. Recent polls have shown his personal popularity at over 70%.

Early indications from financial markets Thursday indicated no great concern among investors regarding the president's health. The Brazilian real opened slightly stronger against the U.S. dollar. Brazil's stock exchange opens later Thursday.