Starting pistol stops premier

THE Belgian prime minister has had to cancel his agenda after standing too close when a starting pistol was fired.

Charles Michel has damaged his hearing and will be out of action for several days following the incident – when the country’s Princess Astrid started the 20km race in Brussels on Sunday.

Pictures from the event show Mr Michel shaken by the loud bang of the gun. He will miss a hearing in parliament while he has treatment and has had to postpone several meetings, it was reported.

His spokesman Barend Leyts said: ‘The PM must undergo a number of treatments within 48 hours after the incident.’