Sen. Kennedy's surgery successful

DURHAM, North Carolina (Reuters) - U.S. Sen. EdwardKennedy, a Democratic icon and a leading backer of presidentialcontender Barack Obama, had successful surgery on Monday toremove a malignant brain tumour and should suffer "no permanentneurological effects," his surgeon said.

"I am pleased to report that Senator Kennedy's surgery wassuccessful and accomplished our goals," Dr. Allan Friedman saidin a statement after a 3 1/2-hour operation at DukeUniversity's Medical Centre in Durham, North Carolina.

After the surgery, Kennedy told his wife, Vicki, "I feellike a million bucks," an aide to the senator said.

Friedman, Duke's chief of neurosurgery, did not specify howmuch of the tumour he was able to remove. He called theoperation "the first step" in a treatment plan for the76-year-old senator from Massachusetts, head of America's mostfabled political family.

"After a brief recuperation, he will begin targetedradiation at Massachusetts General Hospital and chemotherapytreatment," Friedman said.

Kennedy was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour calleda glioma, a type of tumour that usually kills within threeyears, after suffering a seizure on May 17.

Massachusetts General earlier said Kennedy's tumour was inthe left parietal lobe of the brain. Several doctors agreedthat surgery in this region could affect a patient's ability tospeak and potentially the ability to understand language, andperhaps could paralyze the patient's right side as well.

But Friedman said, "Senator Kennedy was awake during theresection (tumour removal) and should therefore experience nopermanent neurological effects from the surgery."

There was no immediate word on when Kennedy, 76, would beable to return to work in the Senate where he has served since1962 when he took the seat vacated by his older brother, thenPresident John Kennedy.

In an upbeat statement issued earlier on Monday, Kennedyvoiced confidence he would soon be back.

"After completing treatment, I look forward to returning tothe United States Senate and to doing everything I can to helpelect Barack Obama as our next president," said Kennedy.

Obama, a first-term U.S. senator from Illinois, has beenlikened to one of Kennedy's older brothers, Robert, who wasassassinated during the 1968 Democratic presidential campaign.President Kennedy was assassinated in 1963 in his third year inoffice.

Sen. Kennedy has been one of the most respected as well aspolarizing figures in U.S. politics. He has long been a heroamong fellow liberals while scorned by many conservatives.

Yet news of his condition shook Washington last month andprompted colleagues on both sides of the political aisle tooffer prayers and words of praise.

"I am deeply grateful to the people of Massachusetts and tomy friends, colleagues and so many others across the countryand around the world who have expressed their support and goodwishes as I tackle this new and unexpected health challenge,"Kennedy said in his statement. (Writing by Thomas Ferraro,editing by Jackie Frank and Alan Elsner)