PARIS, Sept. 7 (Xinhuanet) -- The French government's spokesman said Wednesday that President Jacques Chirac, hospitalized Friday evening following a "minor vascular accident", is "in good form" and will return to office before the end of the week.

    "The president is in good form. He spent an hour with the prime minister preparing the cabinet meeting and he will be out in the coming days, between now and the end of the week," said the government's spokesman Jean-Francois Cope.

    Chirac, 72, missed for the first time the weekly cabinet meeting on Wednesday since taking office in 1995. Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin took his place to preside over the meeting.

    The news of Chirac's hospitalization was released at midday on Saturday. Enditem