Ex-US President George Bush in hospital

HOUSTON (AP) - Former United States President George Bush was in a Texas hospital on Thursday for continuing treatment of a lingering cough.

Mr Bush, 88, has been in and out of the hospital recently for complications resulting from bronchitis, Methodist Hospital said in a brief statement.

The hospital and Bush spokesman Jim McGrath described Mr Bush as in stable condition and said they expected him to be released by the weekend. He's been under hospital care for nearly a week.

"If you asked him today, he would tell you he feels good enough to get out this afternoon," Mr McGrath said. "But the doctors have a different view. He's 88, and they're being extra careful, and understandably so." The illness was described as not life-threatening.