Mandela making 'steady progress'

Nelson Mandela has recovered from his recent lung infection and surgical procedure to remove gallstones, South Africa's president has said.

The 94-year-old has made "steady progress and clinically he continues to improve", Jacob Zuma said in a statement.

Mr Mandela spent nearly three weeks in hospital in December before going home on December 26.

Mr Zuma's statement said Mr Mandela "continues to receive high care" at his Johannesburg home and "his daily routine is being gradually re-established".

He congratulated Mr Mandela on his recovery and said the anti-apartheid icon has "the love and support of all South Africans".

The news that Mr Mandela has recovered from the recurring lung infection and the minor surgery will reassure many in South Africa concerned about his health. Mr Mandela has been reading newspapers, sitting up in bed and receiving visitors, according to reports in the South African media.

The news that Mr Mandela has recovered from the recurring lung infection and the minor surgery will reassure many in South Africa concerned about the health of the aged leader, who has become increasingly frail over the years.

A year ago, Mr Mandela was admitted to a Johannesburg hospital for what officials initially described as tests but what turned out to be an acute respiratory infection. He was discharged days later. He also had surgery for an enlarged prostate gland in 1985.

Under South Africa's white-minority apartheid regime, Mr Mandela served 27 years in prison, where he contracted tuberculosis, before being released in 1990. He later became the nation's first democratically elected president in 1994 under the banner of the African National Congress. He served one five-year term before retiring.

He last made a public appearance on a major stage when South Africa hosted the 2010 World Cup soccer tournament.