Washington - The US Vice-President, Mr Dick Cheney, who has a history of coronary disease, said yesterday he had had episodes of irregular heartbeats and expected to have a type of pacemaker implanted as an "insurance policy".
Mr Cheney (60) made a sudden appearance in the White House briefing room to announce he was having tests today which would probably lead to the implantation of the device, which he referred to as a "pacemaker plus".
Mr Cheney, who under President Bush has been given more policy responsibility and influence that most vice-presidents, said doctors told him there was "no reason" he could not continue to function normally.