Washington, Jan 22 (IANS/EFE): Veteran US journalist Barbara Walters suffered a fall at one of the weekend parties prior to President Barack Obama's second inauguration and had to be hospitalized, ABC said.

Walters, 83, fell Saturday evening at the residence of the British Ambassador to the US, Peter Westmacott, cutting her forehead, network spokesman Jeffrey Schneider said.

Schneider added that Walters went to the hospital Sunday to get treatment for the injuries she suffered in the fall and to undergo a complete medical exam, and she remains under observation.

Walters is alert and is "telling everyone what to do", which is "a very positive sign", the spokesman said jokingly.

ABC did not say when Walters might be released from the hospital.

Walters, who recently interviewed Obama, had been scheduled to participate in the coverage of the events surrounding his second presidential inauguration, but the circumstances of her fall will not allow her to work for at least a few days.