This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-11557578

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Chilean President Sebastian Pinera arrives in UK Chilean President Sebastian Pinera arrives in UK
(about 3 hours later)
Chile's President Sebastian Pinera has arrived in the UK ahead of a European tour, as his country basks in the rescue of 33 trapped miners.Chile's President Sebastian Pinera has arrived in the UK ahead of a European tour, as his country basks in the rescue of 33 trapped miners.
Mr Pinera brought fragments of rock from the San Jose mine as presents for Prime Minister David Cameron and the Queen. He also brought fragments of rock from the San Jose mine as gifts for Prime Minister David Cameron and the Queen.
The billionaire president is due to visit Churchill's War Rooms in London and hold talks with Mr Cameron. The billionaire president is due to visit Churchill's War Rooms in London and hold talks with Mr Cameron - for whom he professed "great admiration".
The rescue of the miners after 69 days has made headlines worldwide.The rescue of the miners after 69 days has made headlines worldwide.
Thirty-one of the miners have now been released from hospital, with the remaining two being transferred to other hospitals.Thirty-one of the miners have now been released from hospital, with the remaining two being transferred to other hospitals.
One is suffering from a dental infection and the second is suffering from vertigo symptoms.One is suffering from a dental infection and the second is suffering from vertigo symptoms.
Mr Pinera, 60, said Churchill's "blood, toil, tears and sweat" speech had provided inspiration to him during the battle to save the miners. Shortly after he landed at London's Heathrow Airport on Saturday, and as he prepared to meet members of the UK's Chilean community, he paid tribute to his homeland.
Mr Pinera said his country had shown the world "a good example of the real meaning of commitment, courage, faith hope and unity."
He said: "We did it because we were united, we did it because we were convinced, and did it because we would never leave anyone behind. And that's a very good principle for Chile and for the world.
"This has been very good news because it started as a tragedy but with the help of God and with the resolution, the commitment and the unity of the Chilean people, we were able to end this story as a real blessing."
Earlier the 60-year-old said Winston Churchill's "blood, toil, tears and sweat" speech had provided inspiration to him during the battle to save the miners.
He also said he ignored political advice to steer clear of the rescue effort.He also said he ignored political advice to steer clear of the rescue effort.
"Many people thought the rescue was impossible and advised me not to get involved, to keep my distance," he said."Many people thought the rescue was impossible and advised me not to get involved, to keep my distance," he said.
"I decided to take full responsibility without any political consideration... We made a commitment to look for the miners as if they were our sons." "I decided to take full responsibility without any political consideration.... We made a commitment to look for the miners as if they were our sons."
Like Mr Cameron, Mr Pinera was only elected this year, and his visit to London is thought to have been planned many months ago.Like Mr Cameron, Mr Pinera was only elected this year, and his visit to London is thought to have been planned many months ago.
He is thought to be hoping to persuade more British companies, including mining corporations, to invest in Chile.He is thought to be hoping to persuade more British companies, including mining corporations, to invest in Chile.
Mr Pinera, who greeted the miners with a hug after their rescue, href="http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/" >told The Times: "Chile will now be remembered and recognised not for Pinochet but as an example of unity, leadership, courage, faith and success." After sightseeing in London on Sunday, he will meet Mr Cameron and have an audience with the Queen, who has extended an invitation at the last minute following the mine rescue.
He also told the newspaper he had a "very strong admiration" for Mr Cameron. On Saturday, Mr Pinera, who greeted the miners with a hug after their rescue, said he was looking forward to both meetings.
Mr Pinera flew in to London's Heathrow Airport and, after sightseeing in London on Sunday, will meet Mr Cameron and have an audience with the Queen, who has extended an invitation at the last minute following the mine rescue. He said: "We have a great admiration for David Cameron. He is a very good friend of ours. He was able to create a new majority to transform and modernise the Conservative Party and to find new solutions for old problems and that's something that I'm sure will be very good for England."
He said he had also bought them a copy of the first message the miners had sent to the surface after they were trapped. It read: "We are well in the shelter, the 33".
He continued: "I'm also bringing a piece of rock that was taken by one of the miners. One for David Cameron, another one for the Queen.
"And also we are bringing the gratitude of all the Chileans because we received a lot of help from our friends around the world."
The Harvard-educated politician said lessons had to be learned from what had happened with the mine.
He said: "One of the lessons is that we have to be much more careful and committed with the safety, lives, the health of our workers."
He is visiting France and Germany later this week.He is visiting France and Germany later this week.
Mr Pinera revealed that his father-in-law died only hours before the miners were rescued and he had told the president: "Don't give up. Keep working to rescue the miners." Mr Pinera had earlier revealed that his father-in-law died only hours before the miners were rescued and he had told the president: "Don't give up. Keep working to rescue the miners."