Heart surgery for ex-Canadian PM Chretien

MONTREAL, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- Former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien was in good condition Thursday in Montreal after undergoing emergency quadruple cardiac bypass surgery.

A friend and adviser, Eddie Goldenberg, told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp., Chretein, 73, was "lucky" in that his symptoms appeared while he was playing golf with a cardiologist.

"The doctor asked him a couple of questions and said, 'You better come and see me,'" Goldenberg said.

The chief of surgery at the Montreal Heart Institute, Dr. Michel Pellerin, said Chretien was in surgery for 78 minutes and was in good condition.

"He's well and he's recuperating very well at the moment. His outcome is excellent." Pellerin said to the CBC.

Chretien led the Liberal Party to three majority governments during his 10 years as prime minister and resigned in 2003 to return to practicing law.