The office of South Africa's president says former leader Nelson Mandela has been taken to a hospital because of a lung infection.

Nelson Mandela (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
Nelson Mandela (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
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A statement from President Jacob Zuma's office says Mandela had a recurrence of the illness in the last few days, and that he was transferred to a Pretoria hospital after his condition deteriorated at about 1:30 a.m. on Saturday.

The statement says Mandela, who is 94 years old, is in "serious but stable" condition and is receiving expert medical care.

The anti-apartheid leader became president in South Africa's all-race elections in 1994. His health has been failing in recent years.

 

(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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