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| Nelson Mandela taken to hospital with abdominal complaint | Nelson Mandela taken to hospital with abdominal complaint |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Former South Africa President Nelson Mandela has been taken to hospital. | Former South Africa President Nelson Mandela has been taken to hospital. |
| Officials said he was suffering from a "long-standing abdominal complaint" which doctors felt needed "proper specialist medical attention". | Officials said he was suffering from a "long-standing abdominal complaint" which doctors felt needed "proper specialist medical attention". |
| The 93-year-old statesman and anti-apartheid icon has suffered declining health in recent years. | The 93-year-old statesman and anti-apartheid icon has suffered declining health in recent years. |
| South African President Jacob Zuma's office said the "love and good wishes of all South Africans and people throughout the world" were with him. | South African President Jacob Zuma's office said the "love and good wishes of all South Africans and people throughout the world" were with him. |
| In a statement, he asked for Mr Mandela and his family to be given privacy. | In a statement, he asked for Mr Mandela and his family to be given privacy. |
| The statement did not say which hospital he had been taken to, but it is believed to be in Johannesburg. | |
| The BBC's Karen Allen in Johannesburg says he is believed to have undergone surgery overnight. | |
| He received treatment in Johannesburg's Milpark hospital last year for a serious chest infection. | |
| Mr Mandela returned to the city last month from his rural home in the Eastern Cape. | |
| Nobel prize | |
| A spokesman for Mr Zuma said regular updates on Mr Mandela's health would be issued. | |
| The BBC's Andrew Harding in Johannesburg says the government is clearly keen to control the flow of information, after previous alerts about the former leader's health have been the subject of much speculation. | |
| Mr Mandela retired from public life eight years ago - his last public appearance was at the World Cup in South Africa in 2010. | Mr Mandela retired from public life eight years ago - his last public appearance was at the World Cup in South Africa in 2010. |
| The Nobel Peace Prize winner is affectionately known in South Africa as Madiba. | |
| He spent 27 years in prison for his actions against the apartheid regime before being released in 1990. | He spent 27 years in prison for his actions against the apartheid regime before being released in 1990. |
| In 1994, he became South Africa's first black president, stepping down in 1999 after one term. | In 1994, he became South Africa's first black president, stepping down in 1999 after one term. |