RIO DE JANEIRO - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro underwent successful surgery on Monday to remove a colostomy bag after being stabbed in the stomach during a campaign four months ago.

The president is expected to stay in the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo for up to 10 days for recovery, presidential spokesperson Otavio do Rego Barros said.

In the first two days after Bolsonaro's surgery, Vice President Hamilton Mourao will serve as interim president. And from the third day, Bolsonaro will resume his presidential duties from a special office set up at the hospital.

Doctors said Bolsonaro was in stable condition.

Bolsonaro was stabbed during a campaign event in September. He was expected to undergo the surgery in December, but was found to have an infection which postponed the procedure.