South Africa's former president Nelson Mandela's health is improving slowly but steadily, the presidency said.
"The medical team also reiterated that although his health was improving steadily, Madiba (Mandela's clan name) still remained in a critical condition," Xinhua quoted presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj as saying Sunday.
Mandela's daughter Zindzi Mandela said Friday that her father "is fine" and could manage to sit up in a chair for a few minutes in a day.
Every day Mandela "becomes more alert and more responsive", Zindzi said in remarks published by the South African Broadcasting Corporation.
Sunday was Mandela's 65th day in hospital, his longest hospital stay since December last year.
Mandela was admitted to hospital June 8 for a recurring lung infection.
