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Kerry in hospital after bike accident

May 31, 2015

US Secretary of State John Kerry has been hospitalized in Geneva after injuring a leg in a bike accident across the border in France, according to the State Department. He has called off his travels to Madrid and Paris.

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John Kerry Fahrrad
Image: picture-alliance/Epa/Gunther

The 71-year old top American diplomat was flown by helicopter to the Geneva University Hospital following the cycling accident in Scionzier, near Chamonix in the French Alps, State Department spokesman John Kirby said.

A spokesman at the US mission in Geneva told dpa the secretary had broken his leg in the accident that occurred on Sunday morning.

On Saturday, Kerry held talks in Geneva with his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif in efforts to secure a nuclear deal ahead of the June 30 deadline.

The Secretary of State had planned to travel to Madrid later on Sunday for meetings with Spain's king and prime minister, before spending two days in Paris for an international conference on fighting against "Islamic State" terrorists. After the accident, he called off the rest of this trip. According to AP, he will fly back to Boston.

America's top diplomat is known for his love of cycling. He has often headed out of his hotel to ride his bike during breaks from negotiations, accompanied by security guards.

das/jil (AP, AFP, dpa)