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ABC News is reporting that Nelson Mandela, the former president of South Africa, took a turn for the worse and is in critical condition today upon battling a lung infection.

South African Jacob Zuma said, using Mandela’s tribal nickname Madiba,

“The doctors are doing everything possible to get his condition to improve and are ensuring that Madiba is well-looked after and is comfortable. He is in good hands.

Mandela had been listed in “serious but stable condition” since he entered the hospital on June 8, 2013.

The 94-year-old’s medical team informed the president’s office that Mandela’s condition become critical over the past 24 hours, according to the statement.

Zuma reiterated today that Mandela’s health was not compromised when the ambulance that was bringing him to the hospital on June 8th broke down.

“There were seven doctors in the convoy who were in full control of the situation throughout the period. He had expert medical care. The fully equipped military ICU ambulance had a full complement of specialist medical staff including intensive care specialists and ICU nurses. The doctors also dismissed the media reports that Madiba suffered cardiac arrest. There is no truth at all in that report. When the ambulance experienced engine problems it was decided that it would be best to transfer to another military ambulance which itself was accompanied for the rest of the journey by a civilian ambulance,”

Mandela was forced to wait for a second ambulance after the first one broke down, the South African government admitted Saturday.

Mandela was rushed to the hospital in the early morning hours of June 8, 2013 after his health began to rapidly decline. He has been battling a recurring lung infection for some months now.

News of Mandela’s health turning to a critical state came in the wake of many statements in the last week claiming that his health was improving.

Even Former South African president Thabo Mbeki suggested as late as Saturday that Mandela was getting better.

The Urban Daily is keeping President Mandela in our thoughts and will continue to update this story as details become available.

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