Foreign minister George Vella undergoes cataract surgery

Foreign affairs minister George Vella has undergone an operation at Mater Dei to remove cataracts from his left eye, the ministry said in a statement.

The operation was carried out by ophthalmologist and Labour MP Franco Mercieca.

Vella, 74, has been discharged and has returned to his ministerial duties.

In August last year, Vella underwent coronary bypass surgery, a few weeks after he was taken ill during a visit to Beijing and had to have a minor cardiac intervention.

Vella is a former deputy prime minister, having served in Alfred Sant’s short-lived government between 1996 and 1998 as minister for foreign affairs and the environment.