French President Jacques Chirac has been advised by his doctors to avoid flying for six weeks, officials say. The advice means the French leader will miss the UN general assembly in New York on 14-16 September. His place will be taken by PM Dominique de Villepin. Chirac left a military hospital in Paris on Friday, after a week's treatment for an eye problem related to a "vascular" incident. Chirac has also been told to "get as much rest as possible", officials say. Accompanied by his wife Bernadette, the 72-year-old walked unaided as he left Val-de-Grace military hospital and told reporters he was "in good form." "I am now going to go home and resume my activities. To hide nothing, I was starting to grow anxious to get out," he was quoted as saying by BBC.
