Syrian vice president collapses during speech

Syrian vice president Abdel Halim Khaddam has collapsed while delivering a speech at a rally in northern Lebanon.

He was rushed to hospital, but it was not immediately known why he had collapsed.

He collapsed 15 minutes into a speech broadcast live from the northern Lebanese town of Tripoli.

The speech was to commemorate the 14th anniversary of the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rashid Karami.

Tripoli was Mr Karami's hometown.