Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva canceled his trip to Russia for the BRICS summit on Sunday, following medical advice to temporarily avoid long-haul flights.
This decision, according to foreign media, Telegrafi reports, comes after, as claimed, he injured his head in an accident at home.
In a statement, the presidential office said Lula, originally scheduled to depart at 17:00 p.m. local time on Sunday, will now attend the BRICS meeting via video conference.
The diplomatic forum founded 15 years ago by Brazil, Russia, India, China has since expanded to include South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates.
According to a medical report issued by the Sirio Libanes Hospital in Brasilia, Lula "was advised to avoid long-distance air travel, but is otherwise able to carry out his regular duties."
The report added that Lula had suffered a wound to the back of his head. /Telegrafi/
