Former South African President Nelson Mandela was discharged from hospital today after treatment for an acute respiratory infection.
Mr Mandela (92) was admitted to hospital three days ago, prompting fears for the anti-apartheid icon who led South Africa as its first black president and is revered at home and abroad as a symbol of reconciliation and hope.
"Madiba is well," Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe said, using Mr Mandela's clan name.
"He is fine. He's O.K. He is in good spirits. He was joking with us," said Mr Motlanthe.
South Africa's surgeon general told the same news conference Mr Mandela was stable and was discharged after treatment for an acute respiratory infection.
"There is no need to panic or to try to see more in what we are saying. For a 92-year-old, he surprises us on a daily basis on his power of recovery," Vejayanand Ramlakan said.
Mr Mandela arrived at his home in Johannesburg's leafy Houghton suburb in a military ambulance, escorted by several police vehicles.
Dr Ramlakan said Mandela would continue to get medical treatment at home, giving no further details of his illness.
Mr Mandela was diagnosed with tuberculosis in the 1980s while he was jailed and later had an operation to repair damage to his eyes. In 2001 he had treatment for prostate cancer. He was released from prison in 1990 after 27 years imprisonment.
President Jacob Zuma and the ruling African National Congress appealed for calm after the hospitalisation set off speculation in local media about Mr Mandela's health and brought family members and dignitaries rushing to the hospital.
Mr Motlanthe acknowledged that the government and other parties involved could have handled Mr Mandela's hospitalisation better.
Nearly 24 hours passed from when the Nelson Mandela Foundation said the former president was in hospital for routine tests to the presidency issuing a statement on his health.
Agencies