Washington - The US first lady Laura Bush has cancelled plans to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Australia because of a pinched nerve, the White House said Sunday. Bush, who was to travel with US President George Bush to the September 8-9 summit, gave the news directly to Janette Howard, wife of Australian Prime Minister John Howard, in a telephone conversation on Saturday.
"Mrs Bush has been treated with physical therapy for a pinched nerve, which she injured while hiking earlier this year," the statement said. It was not clear if it was a back problem.
The first lady's physicians urged her not to travel overseas to avoid aggravating and complicating the problem, the statement said.
