Argentina's Kirchner halts work for health reasons

Argentine President Cristina Kirchner on Wednesday was forced to suspend her official activities after a sudden drop in her blood pressure, her office said. "President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner was advised to suspend her activities and take a day off to rest," presidential doctors said in a statement released by her office. Kirchner, 59, has had to interrupt her duties several times since taking office in 2007 for various health concerns, and has been diagnosed with high blood pressure. Reelected in October 2011 for a second four-year term, Kirchner underwent a procedure to remove her thyroid gland in January. She took three weeks of medical leave at that time. She was initially diagnosed with cancer, but further tests showed that diagnosis was incorrect. Kirchner is Argentina's first elected female president. She succeeded her husband, Nestor Kirchner, who died of a heart attack in October 2010.