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Madiba in London to see statue
28/08/2007 21:11 - (SA)
London - Nelson Mandela was in London on Tuesday before the unveiling of a statue in his honour in Britain's Parliament Square.
The 2.75m bronze likeness of the former South African leader will join statues of other prominent former leaders, including British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and US President Abraham Lincoln in front of Britain's Houses of Parliament.
Mandela and his wife, Graca Machel, will attend the unveiling ceremony on Wednesday in the company of London Mayor Ken Livingstone, anti-apartheid campaigners and community representatives.
The event will feature performances by a Gospel choir and 40 dancers in carnival costume.
Mandela also met with Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Tuesday at No 10 Downing Street.
Brown has often expressed admiration for the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize winner and profiled Mandela in his book, Courage: Eight Portraits.
But Mandela will be skipping a dinner being held in his honour by Livingstone at the Dorchester Hotel in west London, Mandela's spokesperson Zelda Le Grange said.
Supermodel Naomi Campbell, broadcaster Sir Trevor MacDonald and Booker Prize winning author Ben Okri were expected to be in attendance, the mayor's office said.
Le Grange said the 89-year-old Mandela had a full programme in London and did not have the strength to attend in person, but that his grandson would deliver a message on his behalf.
- AP
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