Buenos Aires: Argentine football idol Diego Maradona has left a Buenos Aires hospital, 12 days after being admitted with critical heart and breathing problems.

The Swiss-Argentina hospital said in a statement yesterday (April 29, 2004) that Maradona had been allowed to leave in line with the wishes of his family and personal doctor.

The Todo Noticias channel said the 43-year-old Maradona left the clinic in a vehicle with darkened windows so as not to be seen. Police halted traffic outside the establishment to let the ailing star pass, it said.

According to Todo Noticias, the soccer star, who has been battling drug addiction for several years, was given permission by doctors to continue his recuperation elsewhere.

Maradona was at one stage was said to be fighting for his life in the clinic. But he has made a steady recovery in recent days.

Press reports said Maradona has been joking with doctors about bringing him a ball so he can prove he is recovering.

"Bring me a ball so that I can show them I'm well," he was quoted as saying.

The last medical report on April 28 said his condition was stable with progressive improvement of the cardio-pulmonary system and that he no longer had a fever and the only medication he was taking were antibiotics.

According to physiotherapists, the former national captain was reacting well to exercises improving the ventilation of his lungs.