Argentina: President Kirchner has surgery for brain hematoma

Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner had surgery Tuesday morning to drain blood that had collected on the surface of her brain following a tumble in August. 

Doctors discovered the brain hematoma on Saturday during a routine examination. They initially ordered Kirchner to rest for a month, but decided surgery was necessary after the 60-year-old reported a tingling sensation in her left arm on Sunday.

The operation, which has lasted about two hours, "went very well" her spokesman, Alfredo Scoccimarro told the BBC on Tuesday night.

"The president is in good spirits and is already in her room," he said.

Supporters gathered outside the Fundacion Favaloro hospital in the capital Buenos Aires on Tuesday morning where the operation was conducted. 

Some carried signs that said "Hang in there Cristina."

Medical experts were quoted as saying the procedure was straightforward, but her layoff would likely be longer than a month. 

This means Kirchner will have to suspend campaigning for mid-term congressional elections scheduled for Oct. 27. Recent polls have suggested Kirchner’s ruling Victory Front coalition could lose control of Congress.

It's not clear who will run the country in Kirchner's absence. Vice-President Amado Boudou is facing a corruption investigation and there's been no official word yet as to whether he will take charge while his boss is on leave. Boudou been accused of illegally enriching himself during his time as economy minister from July 2009 to December 2011.