JOHANNESBURG - The office of South Africa's president says former leader Nelson Mandela has been taken to a hospital because of a lung infection.

A statement from President Jacob Zuma's office says Mandela had a recurrence of the illness in the last few days, and that he was transferred to a Pretoria hospital after his condition deteriorated at about 1:30 am on Saturday.

The statement says Mandela, who is 94 years old, is in "serious but stable" condition and is receiving expert medical care.

The anti-apartheid leader became president in South Africa's all-race elections in 1994. His health has been failing in recent years.