WASHINGTON: US Vice President Joe Biden called President Hosni Mubarak on Monday to wish him a speedy recovery from surgery in Germany, the White House said.

The vice president called Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak today to extend his wishes for a quick recovery and to congratulate him on the birth of his first granddaughter, Farida Mubarak, the White House said in a statement.

Biden had been scheduled to visit Egypt for talks with Mubarak during a trip to the region earlier this month, but the visit was cancelled after the Egyptian leader was hospitalized.

He underwent surgery in Germany to remove his gall bladder and a growth on his small intestine before returning to Egypt on Saturday.

The vice president told president Mubarak that he looks forward to rescheduling his visit to Egypt to a future date, the White House said Monday.

Mubarak, 81, has been in power for 29 years and his brief absence from the presidency – during which time he handed power to Egypt s prime minister – revived speculation about who will succeed the aging leader. -AFP