Doctors advised unplugging 8216;vegetative8217; Nelson Mandela8217;s life support

The Mandela family have been advised by the medical practitioners that his life support machine should be switched off.

8220;Rather than prolonging his suffering,the Mandela family is exploring this option as a very real probability.8221;

The 8220;Certificate of Urgency8221; document was obtained by AFP today from a lawyer representing Mandela family members who had successfully sought a court order to return the disputed children8217;s remains to the revered South African leader8217;s childhood home,after a grandson had them moved to his own village.

The document was presented to South Africa8217;s Eastern Cape High Court as President Jacob Zuma reported that Mandela8217;s health had faltered and cancelled a trip to Mozambique.

The next day Zuma reported that Mandela8217;s condition had 8220;improved during the course of the night8221;.

8220;He is much better today than he was when I saw him last night. The medical team continues to do a sterling job,8221; Zuma said in a statement dated June 27.

Since then the government has said Mandela8217;s condition remains 8220;critical but stable8221;,but has provided few details,citing patient confidentiality.

Lawyers for Mandela8217;s relatives,family members themselves and government officials were not immediately available for comment.