Vice president Cheney released from hospital

US vice president Dick Cheney was taken to George Washington Hospital early today experiencing shortness of breath, a spokeswoman said. He was released four-and-a-half hours later.

Cheney spokeswoman Lea Anne McBride said Cheney was taken to the hospital at 3am local time in Washington. He was released about 7.30am.

Doctors found his EKG, or electrocardiogram, unchanged and determined he was retaining fluid because of medication he was taking for a foot problem.