Polish PM injured in car accident

WARSAW: Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo was hospitalised with minor injuries on Friday after a car struck her government vehicle in the southern city of Oswiecim, according to local media.

"Nothing serious happened. She´s undergoing routine tests," said government spokesman Rafal Bochenek, quoted by public radio IAR.

The 53-year-old prime minister was riding in a motorcade when the Fiat vehicle struck, forcing her vehicle off the road and also injuring two security agents, according to IAR.

She was in stable condition and was being transferred to a Warsaw hospital where she is expected to remain for several days, Polish media said. State prosecutors have opened an investigation into the crash.

"We´re with you Beato and we´re sure that after a brief stay in hospital, you´ll be back with us again leading the government," Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the powerful head of Szydlo´s rightwing Law and Justice (PiS) party, said quoted by Poland´s PAP news agency.

The TVN24 commercial news channel reported that Szydlo´s vehicle crashed into a tree after being hit by the small Fiat.

Friday crash was just the latest road incident involving a senior Polish government official.

President Andzej Duda ended up in a road-side ditch last March after a tyre on his official limousine blew.

Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz escaped injury last month when his official vehicle was caught in a pile-up of several cars on an icy highway.