Mandela hospitalised for medical check-up: presidency

JOHANNESBURG: Global peace icon and former statesman Nelson Mandela was hospitalised Saturday for a "scheduled medical check-up", the South African presidency said, months after he underwent treatment for lung infection and gallstones.

"Former president Nelson Mandela was admitted to hospital in Pretoria this afternoon, 9 March 2013, for a scheduled medical checkup to manage the existing conditions in line with his age," said presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj in a statement.

"Doctors are conducting tests and have thus far indicated that there is no cause for any alarm," he added.

The 94-year-old spent 18 days in hospital in December, when he received treatment for a recurrent lung infection and had surgery to extract gallstones.

The stint was his longest hospital stay since his release from prison in 1990. (AFP)