Egypt's president resumes duties after surgery

Cairo: Egypt's president has resumed his duties after recovering from last month's gallbladder surgery in Germany.

The state MENA news agency says Hosni Mubarak chaired a meeting of several government ministers in his first official appearance since the procedure.

The report says Mubarak "discussed a host of domestic issues" at Thursday's meeting in the Red Sea resort of Sharm Al Shaikh. Prime Minister Ahmad Nazif, as well as ministers of finance, housing and economic development attended the meeting.

The 81-year-old Mubarak went to Sharm Al Shaikh to recuperate after the surgery. His absence from public functions had set off new speculation about his frail health.

Mubarak has ruled Egypt for nearly 30 years. He has no clear successor and has never appointed a vice president.