Mandela in hospital for check-up

Mar 9 2013

Nelson Mandela has been admitted to hospital for a scheduled medical check-up, South Africa's presidency has said

Presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj said in a statement that 94-year-old Mr Mandela went to a hospital in Pretoria, the capital, on Saturday afternoon.

Mr Maharaj said doctors are conducting tests and have indicated so far that there is "no reason for any alarm".

Mr Mandela, a leader of the fight against apartheid and a former president, was in hospital for nearly three weeks in December before going home on December 26.

At that time, he was treated for a lung infection and had a surgical procedure to remove gallstones.