Mandela admitted to hospital for tests: president's office

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - Nelson Mandela was on Saturday admitted to a hospital for tests consistent with old age and is doing well, the office of South Africa's president, Jacob Zuma, announced.

"Former President Nelson Mandela has today been admitted in hospital in Pretoria to undergo tests," Mr Zuma's office announced. Mr Mandela "is doing well and there is no cause for alarm," it added.

The ageing statesman, who turned 94 in July, has grown frail and has not appeared in public since South Africa's Football World Cup final in 2010.

Rumours of his failing health flare up periodically, forcing the government to issue reassurances that all is well.