Tourism Minister David Allen, pictured right, was in a "serious but stable" condition in an intensive care unit yesterday after undergoing surgery in the United States for an undisclosed illness.

Acting Tourism Minister Alex Scott said last night he believed the surgery had taken place on Sunday evening in the Lahey Clinic in Boston, Massachusetts.

Mr. Allen was airlifted to Boston on Friday after undergoing treatment in the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

Mr. Scott would not disclose the nature of Mr. Allen's illness without his consent.

He told The Royal Gazette last night: "He is probably going through the most serious period of his hospitalisation period up there and he is in the intensive care unit.

"The fact that he is in the intensive care unit, I think he's gone through some form of procedural surgery.

"Until Mr. Allen confirms the diagnosis, I don't want to put his private business in the public domain unless he wishes it to be so."

A spokeswoman for the Clinic said last night Mr. Allen was in a "serious but stable condition" but she could not give any further details.