Australian opposition Labour leader Mark Latham in hospital

CANBERRA - Australia opposition Labour leader Mark Latham is being treated in hospital for an inflammation of the pancreas, his office said on Wednesday.

Latham, 43, fell ill with stomach cramps on Tuesday afternoon and was taken to Sydney Hospital's emergency department where he was diagnosed with pancreatitis.

"Mr Latham expects to be home by the weekend to make a full recovery," his office said in a statement.

Latham's centre-left Labour party is neck-and-neck with Prime Minister John Howard's conservative government ahead of a likely October or November election.

- REUTERS