Mandela remains in hospital, condition unchanged

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Nelson Mandela remains hospitalized in a critical but stable condition, the office of South Africa's president said Saturday.

Several news organizations, including CNN and the BBC, reported that former South African president Nelson Mandela had been released from the hospital, prompting a statement from President Jacob Zuma to clarify that Mandela remained in a Pretoria hospital.

The update on the 95-year-old anti-apartheid hero's condition is unchanged from last week, when Zuma said Mandela showed "great resilience."

"Madiba is still in hospital in Pretoria, and remains in a critical but stable condition," the statement said, referring to Mandela by his clan name. "At times his condition becomes unstable, but he responds to medical interventions."

The 95-year-old Mandela has been in the hospital since June 8 with a recurring lung infection.

CNN reported "two sources close to" Mandela said he had returned to his Johannesburg home.

Mandela spent 27 years in prison for fighting to end apartheid. His chronic lung problems began during his time in Robben Island prison. When the white-minority rule ended, Mandela was elected president in the first election in which blacks were able to vote.