Obama hails Nelson Mandela as inspiration to world

US President Barack Obama has met relatives of Nelson Mandela and spoken of the inspiration the former South African president has given to people around the world.

Mr Mandela remains critically ill with a lung infection in hospital in Pretoria.

President Obama praised Nelson Mandela as an inspiration.

AFP

The US leader, who was speaking in Pretoria after talks with President Jacob Zuma, does not intend to visit the 94-year-old, who has been critically ill for nearly a week.

But he met the Mandela family in private and spoke by telephone to his wife, Graca Machel.

Mr Obama paid tribute to the profound impact of the anti-apartheid leader in building a free South Africa, the BBC reports.

According to Mr Zuma, Mr Mandela remains "stable but critical", and he added that he had "every hope that he will be out of hospital soon".

Clashes at protest rally

Police push back protesters in Soweto.

AFP

Riot police clashed with anti-Obama protesters in Soweto, where the American leader was to deliver a speech to young African leaders at the University of Johannesburg.

Mr Obama told the students he wanted to spread his "yes we can" message to the continent's future leaders.

He urged them to take inspiration from Mr Mandela, who persevered through a long prison sentence.

Just before he spoke, police fired rubber bullets and stun grenades to disperse protesters against his foreign policy, who had gathered outside the university. At least one person was injured and one arrested.

RNZI