Nelson Mandela remains in hospital

Nelson Mandela remains in hospital receiving treatment for a lung infection.

The 94-year-old former South African president was admitted in the early hours of Saturday morning and was described as being in a "serious but stable condition", according to the office of the current president, Jacob Zuma.

His wife Graca Machel cancelled an appearance at a high profile hunger summit in London to be with her husband in South Africa.

She was due to appear at the Nutrition for Growth meeting at the same time as key speakers Bill Gates and Justine Greening, Secretary of State for International Development. But her name was removed from the provisional list of speakers with organisers saying she had to cancel ''for personal reasons''.

Mac Maharaj, a spokesman for Mr Zuma's office, said: "During the past few days former president Nelson Mandela has had a recurrence of lung infection...

"The former president is receiving expert medical care and doctors are doing everything possible to make him better and comfortable.

"President Jacob Zuma, on behalf of government and the nation, wishes Madiba a speedy recovery and requests the media and the public to respect the privacy of Madiba and his family."

He added that Mr Mandela's family were with him and had accompanied him to hospital.

Prime Minister David Cameron gave his support to Mr Mandela on Twitter, saying: "My thoughts are with Nelson Mandela, who is in hospital in South Africa."

Mr Maharaj said Mr Mandela first developed his lung condition many years ago when he was incarcerated in prison, and that it is a problem that "comes and goes". He added that there was no suggestion that Mr Mandela was unconscious.