'Tree man' back home after warts removed

An Indonesian man dubbed the "tree man" because of gnarled growths on his body has returned from hospital after six kg of warts were surgically removed from his body, a doctor said yesterday.

Dede, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, first noticed the warts on his body after cutting his knee as a teenager. Over time, he was sacked from his job, deserted by his wife and shunned by neighbors as the horn-like extensions covered most of his body.

One of Dede's doctors, Rachmad Dinata, said the hospital had allowed the 37-year-old man to enjoy the Islamic fasting month with his family now that 95 percent of the warts had been removed after nine operations. The fasting month begins on Monday.