Obama receives 12 stitches to lip

Written on November 26, 2010 by

President Obama was struck by someone's elbow during the game

US President Barack Obama has been given 12 stitches after he was hit in the lip during a basketball game.

Mr Obama was inadvertently struck by someone's elbow during the game on Friday morning, the White House said.

The US president was treated in the doctor's office of the White House following the game at at Fort McNair, in Washington DC.

Later, Mr Obama was seen at the White House holding what appeared to be an ice pack to his lip.
"After being inadvertently hit with an opposing player's elbow in the lip ... the president received 12 stitches today, administered by the White House Medical Unit," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said in a statement.

Mr Obama was given a local anaesthetic while receiving the stitches, he added.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.