Bush to hand power to Cheney while he is sedated for check-up on colon

President George Bush will temporarily transfer power today to Vice-President Dick Cheney while he has a colon examination that will require him to be sedated.

Mr Bush, 55, said the checkup, which will take place at Camp David, was routine and had not been prompted by any signs or symptoms of illness. "It is the third such procedure I've had," he said. "The doctor recommended I have another one because the last time they found some benign polyps."

He said he was the first president to transfer power "under this type of procedure of physical examination ... we're at war and I just wanted to be super-cautious." He added: "He [Mr Cheney] realises he is not going to be President for very long."

The US Constitution requires power to be transferred to the Vice-President in the event that the President is incapacitated.

The last time such a transfer was required is believed to have been during the era of Ronald Reagan, when he was having surgery for cancer of the colon. On that occasion, Mr Bush's father, George Snr, then Vice-President and later President, took formal control.

According to records released during Mr Bush's presidential campaign, two benign polyps were surgically removed from his colon in July 1998.

Mr Bush said he did not know how long he would be sedated for the procedure, but doctors say the test lasts between 30 and 45 minutes. Mr Bush declined to specify the time of his operation.

"I feel great," he said. "This is part of the annual physical so I just decided to do it at this time. It fit into my schedule. No signs. No symptoms."