Tonga's Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva was discharged from hospital over the weekend and "is in good health", the Prime Minister's Office said today in a statement.

The Prime Minister was admitted to hospital on January 5 and transferred to the intensive care unit on January 8 where he was said to be recovering from a bacterial infection.

 The Prime Minister was unable to attend the opening of the Legislative Assembly on January 11, but left hospital briefly to attend the official swearing of Cabinet on January 18.

Today's statement from the PMO today is the first to make mention of his illness and hospitalization for two weeks. The statement said that the Minister of Health "is pleased to inform the public that the Prime Minister is in good health and was discharged from the hospital during the weekend."

The statement denied reports that the Prime Minister is suffering from cancer.

It stated that he has "recovered from his illness in the past weeks which confined him to the Intensive Care Unit at Vaiola Hospital for strict observation and monitoring."

However, it went on to thank everyone who had offered prayers "during this very difficult time."