Britain's
Cherie Blair Suffers Miscarriage
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Blair and Cherie |
LONDON,
Aug 6 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Cherie Blair, 47, wife of
British Prime Minister Tony Blair, was discharged from hospital
Tuesday, August 6, 2002, after suffering a miscarriage, a Downing
Street spokeswoman said.
"Following
inquiries from the media in France and in London, we can confirm that
the Prime Minister and Mrs. Blair have delayed their departure on
holiday," the spokeswoman said, reported Agence France-Presse
(AFP).
"This
follows Mrs. Blair's admission into the Chelsea and Westminster
hospital after a miscarriage.
"She
had an operation under general anesthetic and was discharged this
morning. The Prime Minister was at the hospital with her and both
would like to thank the hospital for their support and care."
The
spokeswoman added, "Mrs. Blair came through the operation well
and is now resting."
Downing
Street said, in the statement, that, while they understood the
inevitable interest, they hoped the media would allow the Prime
Minister and his family to enjoy as a normal family holiday as
possible, reported BBC’s online news service.
Facing
the media on Friday, Mrs. Blair looked relaxed and happy in St Bees,
Cumbria, with her husband.
She
fielded questions from reporters while posing for pictures as she
sheltered under a large umbrella held by Mr. Blair.
Deputy
Prime Minister John Prescott said, "I am very sorry to hear the
news for Tony and Cherie and hope people will respect their
privacy."
Tory
leader Iain Duncan Smith and his wife Betsy sent flowers to Downing
Street with a note wishing Mrs. Blair a full recovery.
A
spokeswoman for Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy said:
"Charles Kennedy is still on his honeymoon but I know he will be
shocked and saddened by what has happened and would want to offer the
Prime Minister his deepest sympathy and condolences.
"This
is a desperately painful thing to happen to the Blairs and Mr. Kennedy
would also want to wish Mrs. Blair as speedy a recovery as
possible”.
A
spokeswoman for London's Chelsea and Westminster hospital confirmed
the operation, but refused to give more details.
Downing
Street's statement came as rumors circulated about the Blairs'
non-arrival in Toulouse for a holiday in southwestern France, which
sparked speculation that Blair could be delayed by matters concerning
Iraq.
Earlier
Tuesday three of the Blairs' four children were seen arriving in the
French city, along with Cherie Blair's mother Gale Booth for a stay in
the nearby village of Le Vernet.
The
Prime Minister and his wife were expected to be on the flight as well.
The
Blairs were to stay with French friends at the Moulin, a chateau with
a swimming pool and a tennis court.
Cherie
Blair won praise for her success in combining parenthood, her legal
career and the duties attached to the Prime Minister's wife.
She
is widely regarded as a model for modern women, juggling her role as
mother of Euan, 18, Nicholas, 17, Kathryn, 14 and two-year-old Leo,
and a job as a high-flying lawyer, while still finding the time to
accompany her husband on a number of overseas trips.
During
her fourth pregnancy, her busy pace continued until just before the
birth of her baby. She was aged 45 at the time, but concerns that her
age could complicate the pregnancy proved unfounded.
News
of that pregnancy created a sensation as Leo was the first baby born
to a serving British Prime Minister in more than a century.
Peter
Bowen-Simpkins, of the Royal College of Obstetricians and
Gynecologists, said Tuesday that the risk of miscarriage increased
greatly with women of Blair's age.
Women
who are pregnant at the age of 25-30 have a miscarriage rate of 16
percent and by 40 years of age the rate rises to 25 percent, said the
pregnancy expert.
"Then
as women get older through the next 10 years the rate goes up and up
and up and would probably be at least 50 percent by 47 or 48," he
said.
Blair
is understood to have known that she was pregnant. Downing Street said
she hoped to join the rest of her family on holiday before the end of
the week .
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