Hallyday's controversial surgeon assaulted in Paris

AFP - The French surgeon at the center of allegations of performing a botched operation on rock legend Johnny Hallyday was mugged by two hooded people in Paris overnight, a lawyer for the doctor said Saturday.

Doctor Stephane Delajoux operated on the singer known as the "French Elvis" for a slipped disc on November 26, but since then Hallyday has had to undergo emergency treatment in Los Angeles, and the story has been splashed across front pages around France.

"I spoke to him (Delajoux) by telephone last night. I don't know much. He was mugged by two people wearing hoods, who weren't armed, and there were witnesses," Herve Temime told AFP, confirming his comments on French television.

Temime however could not say what condition the surgeon was in after the attack nor where it took place.

In his interview with i-Television, Temime said that his client had asked for police protection and that he finally "miraculously found" a bodyguard.

The media frenzy surrounding Hallyday's health heated up Friday when the French rocker's producer alleged in Los Angeles that Hallyday's operation in Paris had been a "butchery".

"In the United States they told us his operation in Paris was a complete butchery," Jean-Claude Camus said.

The 66-year-old singer fell seriously ill on Monday and was taken to Cedars Sinai hospital in Los Angeles where doctors put him in a drug-induced coma as he recovered from surgery to deal with an infection from an earlier operation.

Late Friday Hallyday's son said he had "positive news" on his father's condition.

"The news is very positive. He is very strong, it's going very well," David Hallyday told reporters after landing from a Paris flight.

And on Saturday, Line Renaud, Hallyday's godmother who is in Los Angeles, told French radio that she was "extremely confident" about his condition.

"Above all, I want to say to the French public, I am confident, I am extremely confident, I saw him, he looks good," she said, adding that he is being cared for "magnificently".

By far the most famous French rock singer, Hallyday has sold more than 100 million albums and played 45 major tours, selling out at stadiums.