Italian Interior Minister Amato has heart surgery

ROME, Dec 28 (Reuters) Italian Interior Minister Giuliano Amato, a former prime minister, today underwent heart surgery but will be able to return to work within 48 hours, a government spokesman said.

Amato, 68, is expected to be discharged from hospital on Friday after the coronary angioplasty operation, the spokesman said.

Amato served as prime minister in 1992-93 and also briefly in 2001.

Reuters SBA VP0310