Toestand Mandela 'serieus'

Former South African President and anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela was in a "serious but stable" condition after being taken to hospital early on Saturday with a recurrence of a lung infection, the government said.

The 94-year-old, who became the first black leader of Africa's biggest economy in 1994 after historic all-race elections, has been in hospital three times since December. He has been battling the infection for several days, a statement said.

"This morning at about 1:30 a.m. (7.30 p.m. EDT on Friday) his condition deteriorated and he was transferred to a Pretoria hospital. He remains in a serious but stable condition," the government said.