The Brazilian presidential office said on October 20 that Lula, 78, would attend the BRICS summit via video conference. He was originally scheduled to depart at 5 p.m. on October 20.

Lula's doctor, Roberto Kalil, said the Brazilian president had fallen and suffered a head injury that required stitches and resulted in a slight brain hemorrhage in the temporal-frontal region.

"This is a condition that requires re-testing throughout the week. Theoretically, any brain hemorrhage could worsen in the following days, so monitoring is very important," the doctor said.

The report said Mr Lula was "advised to avoid long-haul flights but was still able to carry out his usual duties".

The Brazilian government said Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira was appointed to lead the Brazilian delegation to the BRICS Summit and departed on the night of October 20.

The BRICS bloc, founded 15 years ago by major emerging markets such as Brazil, Russia, India and China, has now expanded to include South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates.

Ngoc Anh (according to Reuters)