Kennedy back at home after hospital visit

Senator Edward Kennedy, who has brain cancer, was taken by ambulance to a hospital near his Massachusetts vacation home after complaining of feeling ill but returned home a few hours later.

A statement issued by the 76-year-old senator’s office attributed the episode to a change in medications.

Senator John Kerry said his fellow Massachusetts Democrat was well and planned to watch the evening’s presidential debate between John McCain and Barack Obama.

An emergency telephone call from the Kennedy compound in Hyannis Port on Cape Cod came around 5pm, said Barnstable police Sgt Ben Baxter.

Mr Kennedy was taken to Cape Cod Hospital and was “alert and responsive” during the trip, Sgt Baxter said.

Mr Kennedy’s office confirmed he returned home about 8pm.

The senator had a seizure in May and underwent surgery in June for a malignant brain tumour.

After undergoing six weeks of chemotherapy and radiation treatment, he has been steadily increasing his public activity.

Mr Kennedy had told reporters visiting his Hyannis Port home on Tuesday that he was actively following the presidential race.

“I’m going to be following it particularly next Friday,” the senator said with a laugh.

Republican Mr McCain, in his opening statement at the debate with Mr Obama, whom Mr Kennedy has endorsed, noted his colleague’s hospitalisation.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the lion of the Senate,” he said.

On Tuesday, Mr Kennedy received a visit from Chilean President Michelle Bachelet at his home in his first public appearance since he gave a surprise speech in late August at the Democratic National Convention.

Ms Bachelet presented the senator with her country’s highest civilian award - the Order to the Merit of Chile – in recognition of his opposition to the country’s 1973 government overthrow and his work to cut off military aid to dictator Augusto Pinochet.

At the meeting, the senator stumbled momentarily as he tried to walk on the thick grass, but he quickly regained his balance.