Thai king recovering following operation - royal household

Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej leaves the Siriraj Hospital for a ceremony at the Grand Palace in Bangkok December 5, 2010. King Bhumibol celebrates his 83rd birthday on Sunday.

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's 83-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej is recovering well following an operation to remove cerebrospinal fluid, the Royal Household Bureau said on Tuesday.

The king, who has been in hospital since September 2009, was receiving antibiotics intravenously after a 30-minute surgical procedure late on Monday, the bureau said in a rare statement on his health.

"His majesty has some pain where the puncture was but his overall condition is good," it said following the operation, which is also known as a spinal tap.

The king has made occasional public appearances since being hospitalized and the most recent footage has appear to show him in better health.

He is revered by most Thais and his health is a sensitive issue because of concerns his succession may be complicated at a time of continuing domestic political tension.

The government is expected to dissolve parliament within days and call an early election. Ninety-one people were killed and more than 1,800 wounded in clashes between anti-government protesters and the military last year and Thailand remains a deeply divided nation.

Public discussion of the monarchy is limited by strict lese-majeste laws that carry a penalty of up to 15 years in jail.

The Royal Household reiterated in a statement on Monday that the king had recovered from a lung infection but continued to stay in hospital for physical rehabilitation and to ensure good nutrition.

It explained that the excess cerebrospinal fluid had caused unsteadiness when he walked, which it said was normal in elderly people.

(Reporting by Bangkok Newsroom; Editing by Miral Fahmy)