Nelson Mandela discharged from hospital in South Africa Published duration 26 December 2012

media caption Nelson Mandela's grandson Mandla Mandela said the family were relieved he had been discharged from hospital

The former South African president, Nelson Mandela, has been discharged from hospital, the South African presidency says.

Mr Mandela will continue to receive treatment at his home in Johannesburg until he has fully recovered, according to a statement from President Jacob Zuma's office.

Mr Mandela, 94, was admitted to hospital 18 days ago.

He was treated for a lung infection and gallstones.

'Privacy

His wife, Graca Machel, and President Zuma visited him on Christmas Day and said he was in good spirits.

Afterwards, Mr Zuma said doctors were happy with the progress Mr Mandela had made.

In his statement, Mr Zuma thanked South Africans for the messages of good wishes they had sent.

"We request a continuation of the privacy consideration in order to allow for the best possible conditions for full recovery," the presidency statement said.

The latest stay in hospital has been Mr Mandela's longest since leaving prison in 1990.

His grandson, Mandla, said Mr Mandela's absence on Christmas Day had "greatly saddened" the family, adding: "We didn't anticipate that he would be away for so long."

Mr Mandela served as South Africa's first black president from 1994 to 1999 and is regarded by many as the father of the nation.

media caption Government spokesman Mac Maharaj said Nelson Mandela would still be receiving a high level of care at home

His health has been a cause of concern for many years.

He first contracted tuberculosis in the 1980s while detained in Robben Island prison.

He has been admitted to hospital on three occasions in the past two years.

Mr Mandela lives in Qunu, a small rural village in Eastern Cape province, where he says he spent the happiest days of his childhood.