Margaret Thatcher hospitalised in London

LONDON: Margaret Thatcher, Britain's Conservative prime minister from 1979 to 1990, was taken to a London hospital on Wednesday after "feeling faint" but was expected to be discharged the next day.   

Thatcher, 80, would spend the night in the hospital as a precaution and doctors believed she would be able to leave in the morning, a Conservative Party spokeswoman said.   

"She was not feeling very well this afternoon. They took her into hospital and they are running a few tests," she said.   

BBC television said Thatcher had felt unwell during an appointment with a hairdresser, and her bodyguards took her to the hospital. In recent years, she has suffered a series of minor strokes and in 2002 her doctor told her to stop accepting public speaking engagements, citing health grounds.   

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital spokesman Mark Purcell confirmed that Thatcher was admitted to the hospital at about 5 pm (1700 GMT).   

"We can confirm that Lady Thatcher was brought to the accident and emergency department earlier this evening at about 5 pm," he said.   

"She has had a number of tests and she will remain in hospital overnight as a precaution," he added.   

"She will be assessed by doctors in the morning. Her condition is stable and comfortable and she is now resting."