Maradona improving but still in intensive care

Diego Maradona remained in intensive care yesterday, more than 42 hours after falling ill with heart and breathing problems, but media reports said he had been taken off artificial respiration.

A clutch of fans continued a vigil by posters and soccer strips pasted to the walls of the posh Buenos Aires clinic where Maradona, one of the most gifted players in soccer history, was rushed on Sunday.

Radio station FM HIT cited Maradona's ex-wife Claudia Villafane as saying he was now breathing without assistance.

Family doctor Alfredo Cahe refused to comment when asked if Maradona was breathing on his own, and has previously denied reports that the illness was due to cocaine, saying he had not been taking the drug lately and that the tests he had seen were negative.

Maradona has been fighting drug addiction for years. Cahe told reporters late on Monday the 43-year-old former star was relaxed and an artificial respirator had been turned down to the minimum level, although he said the Argentine national hero was not out of the woods yet.

"He is better, everything is a bit more relaxed," said Cahe, adding Maradona had a lung infection due to a chill.

After a similar scare in early 2000 Maradona's entourage initially denied cocaine was involved but his cardiologist later told fans to change their placards from 'Hang in there Diego' to 'Damned cocaine'.

Maradona arrived at the clinic in a serious, feverish condition with breathing difficulties and a swollen heart after watching a game at his former club Boca Juniors' stadium where he made his name.

Maradona's official website www.diegomaradona.com said the former Argentina captain was progressing favourably.

"I just want him to recover," said 20-year-old law student Agustin Pellegrini, wearing a Boca tracksuit top. "He is the only person who has brought any happiness to the Argentine people in recent years. That's why I love him."

Maradona, the fifth of eight children of a factory worker, was given his first football as an infant and slept with it under his arm.

Rising to stardom from a Buenos Aires slum to lead Argentina to World Cup victory, Maradona's is the ultimate rags-to-riches story in this soccer-mad country and he has gained the iconic status of Che Guevara or Evita Peron.

At the peak of his form, he led Argentina to a 3-2 triumph over West Germany in the 1986 World Cup final. In 1991 he failed a dope test for cocaine and was banned for 15 months.

He played in his fourth World Cup in the US in 1994 but tested positive for a cocktail of drugs the day before he was due to make his record 22nd appearance.