Nato Secretary General taken to hospital

Nato Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer was taken to hospital after fainting during Belgian National Day festivities today.

A Nato spokesman said the alliance’s outgoing chief “had a small blood clot,” but it was removed during a hospital procedure. Mr de Hoop Scheffer will stay in hospital for three days for observation.

He fainted after opening a Nato exhibit near the royal palace. Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy and Defence Minister Pieter De Crem helped try to revive him on a park bench.

The Nato chief is to step down at the end of July.