Designer Pierre Cardin hospitalised

PARIS - French fashion designer Pierre Cardin has been hospitalised with an undiagnosed ailment after falling ill at his home in the southern village of Lacoste, the daily La Provence reported Wednesday.

The 86-year-old Cardin was taken to a hospital in the city of Marseille by helicopter, primarily because of security concerns rather than the gravity of the illness.

It is the second time in less than a week that Cardin has been in hospital. He was briefly hospitalised at the end of last week after breaking his shoulder blade in a fall at his home.

Considered one of the leading designers of the 20th century, Cardin counted former American first lady Jacqueline Kennedy and the Beatles among his clients.