The United States has wished the speedy recovery of the former South African President, Nelson Mandela, who remained in "serious but stable" condition for the fourth day in hospital for treatment of a lung infection that has recurred.
"We all are concerned about Nelson Mandela's health and wish him and his family well and hope that he recovers," the White House Press Secretary, Jay Carney, told reporters at a news conference yesterday.
Obama is scheduled to visit South Africa later this month.
Obama had last met Mandela when he went to South Africa as a Senator. "I know they did meet when President Obama was a senator. The First Lady was in South Africa and met with Nelson Mandela when she visited South Africa a few years ago I believe. But I don't know when the President last spoke with Mr. Mandela," Carney said.
Mandela, one of world's tallest statesmen, was rushed to a Pretoria hospital on June 8, after his health took a turn for the worse at his Johannesburg home, where he was recovering from a lung infection after being released from hospital on April 6.
This is Mandela's third hospital visit in seven months.
