Ex-DPP chief has stroke

Former DPP chairman Huang Hsin-chieh (黃信??/CHINESE>) was recovering from a brain operation at the National Taiwan University Hospital in Taipei yesterday morning following a stroke, according to local media reports.

Huang was found in a coma by his family Saturday afternoon and was hospitalized for the operation.

Tseng Han-min (曾漢民), doctor of the hospital, said Huang regained consciousness after the operation and is recovering well.

Doctors said this was not Huang's first stroke and that he was likely to remain in hospital for at least five days.

DPP heavyweights such as Chairman Lin I-hsiung (林義雄), presidential candidate Chen Shui-bian (3?糮?/CHINESE>), Taipei County Commissioner Su Tseng-chang (蘇-s昌) and others, yesterday expressed their concern.

"Chairman Huang's contribution to Taiwan's democracy is significant. Many people respect him and like him," Lin said, adding that "a good person like him will make it through hardship."