London - Former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher will stay in hospital for "several more days" after breaking her upper arm in a fall, her spokesman said Monday.

It had earlier been expected that Thatcher, 83, would be discharged Monday after being admitted to the Chelsea & Westminster hospital last Friday.

"She's very comfortable but the doctors have decided to keep her in. It is an entirely precautionary measure," said her spokesman.

He said that Lady Thatcher was well enough to sit up in a chair and chat to visitors but doctors would assess her recovery over the next days.

She was visited Monday by her son, Mark, who said at the weekend that his mother was "in good spirits."(dpa)