Prague - Former Czech president Vaclav Havel's condition has improved slightly but remained serious, doctors said Thursday, three days after he was admitted to a Prague hospital with throat inflammation.

Doctors said that antibiotics helped to suppress inflammation in Havel's throat after a minor operation on Monday, in which surgeons removed a septic cavity.

The 72-year-old was sleeping well and reading newspapers in hospital, the doctors said. Havel would, however, remain in intensive care as he needed to wear a respiratory mask to aid his breathing, him with breathing, the hospital unit's head Martina Pelechovska.

Doctors said they still fear that inflammation could spread across Havel's lungs, weakened by chronic bronchitis and surgeries to treat lung cancer.

"The lung is less clogged with phlegm but, as we said, we did not win yet," physiotherapist Pavel Kolar said.

Havel, who is also a playwright, was last hospitalized a year ago with acute bronchitis and a heart arrhythmia.

Once an avid smoker, he has frequently suffered from serious health problems during and after his term as president between 1989 and 2003. (dpa)