South Africa's former president Nelson Mandela has undergone successful surgery to remove gallstones as he recovers from a lung infection.

Doctors treating Mandela waited to perform the endoscopic surgery as they wanted to first attend to his lung ailment.

Mr. Mandela was admitted to a hospital on December 8 in South Africa's capital, Pretoria.

The 94-year-old has a history of lung problems, having contracted tuberculosis in 1988 toward the end of his 27 years in prison. Doctors said at the time the disease caused no permanent damage to his lungs but others say tuberculosis can cause problems years later.

He had an acute respiratory infection in January 2011. After the chaos that surrounded his stay at a public hospital then, the South African army took charge of his care and the government managed information about his health.

From The Guardian