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Nelson Mandela: Well-wishers flock to Pretoria hospital Obama flies to S Africa ruling out Mandela 'photo op'
(about 4 hours later)
Well-wishers are continuing to gather outside the hospital in Pretoria where former President Nelson Mandela remains in a critical condition. US President Barack Obama has played down expectations he will meet former President Nelson Mandela in hospital, as he prepares to land in South Africa.
They have been singing and saying prayers both outside the hospital and at his former home in Soweto. He told reporters on board Air Force One: "I don't need a photo op."
People are anxious about his health but also want to express pride in the man many consider the father of the nation, the BBC's Karen Allen reports. Mr Obama is heading to Johannesburg from Senegal, which was the first stop in his three-country tour of Africa.
South Africa's first black president is suffering from a lung infection. Well-wishers are continuing to gather outside the hospital in Pretoria where 94-year-old Mr Mandela remains in a critical condition.
The 94-year-old icon of the anti-apartheid struggle has now spent 20 days in hospital. There has been singing and dancing as well as prayer vigils for the country's first black president and icon of the anti-apartheid struggle.
President Jacob Zuma - who cancelled a visit to Mozambique on Thursday to visit Mr Mandela in hospital - said his condition had improved, but still remained critical. People are anxious about his health but also want to express their pride in the man many consider the father of the nation, the BBC's Karen Allen reports from outside the hospital.
Mr Mandela's daughter Makaziwe admitted on Wednesday night after seeing him that "he doesn't look good... but... if we speak to him, he responds and tries to open his eyes". Ministers, politicians, Mr Mandela's physician and family members were among those visiting on Friday, his 21st day in hospital.
She was also highly critical of the behaviour of the international media, accusing some of behaving like vultures with their "overboard" coverage. Meanwhile, a court in the East Cape has granted an application brought by the Mandela family to exhume three of his children and two other relatives and rebury them in the family cemetery in Qunu, which is where the former leader wants to be buried, their lawyers say.
Mixed emotions The BBC's Pumza Fihlani in Johannesburg says this is one of the reasons why the family held a meeting earlier this week.
An increasing number of messages of support and thanks have been posted on the hospital railings and walls. The family has been keen to resolve this issue while Mr Mandela remains in hospital.
Many contain images that capture the life of Nelson Mandela, known by his clan name Madiba. 'Profound gratitude'
In Senegal on Thursday, Mr Obama described Mr Mandela as a "hero for the world", whose "legacy will linger on through the ages", and he explained how he was a "personal hero" who had inspired his own activism as a student.
However, he told reporters on Friday he did not expect to meet him during his visit to South Africa.
"I don't need a photo op," he said aboard Air Force One after leaving Senegal. "The last thing I want to do is to be in any way obtrusive at a time when the family is concerned with Nelson Mandela's condition."
He went on to say: "I think the main message we'll want to deliver is not directly to him, but to his family - is simply profound gratitude for his leadership all these years, and that the thoughts and prayers of the American people are with him, his family and his country."
Mr Obama met Mr Mandela in 2005 when he was still a US senator. Both men became the first black presidents of their nations and have received the Nobel Peace Prize.
A picture of Barack Obama sat among the goodwill messages left for Mr Mandela outside Pretoria's Mediclinic Heart Hospital, where the former president is being treated for a lung infection.
It is one of an increasing number of messages of support and thanks that now adorn the hospital's railings and walls. Many contain images that capture the life of Nelson Mandela, known by his clan name Madiba.
People sang and danced in tribute during an all-night prayer vigil outside his former home in Soweto.People sang and danced in tribute during an all-night prayer vigil outside his former home in Soweto.
Children released 94 balloons - one for every year of the ex-president's life - into the air in his honour.Children released 94 balloons - one for every year of the ex-president's life - into the air in his honour.
There are mixed emotions among the well-wishers outside the hospital, our correspondent reports. People are sad and anxious but at the same time feel deeply proud of him and his achievements.There are mixed emotions among the well-wishers outside the hospital, our correspondent reports. People are sad and anxious but at the same time feel deeply proud of him and his achievements.
"There is no sadness here. There is celebration. He is a giant," 57-year-old Nomhlahla Donry, whose husband served time with Mr Mandela, told the AFP news agency."There is no sadness here. There is celebration. He is a giant," 57-year-old Nomhlahla Donry, whose husband served time with Mr Mandela, told the AFP news agency.
"We are saying let him live long because we like him and he has done a lot for us in this world. He's done a lot of amazing things and we really love Tata," local resident Alfred Makhathini told Reuters."We are saying let him live long because we like him and he has done a lot for us in this world. He's done a lot of amazing things and we really love Tata," local resident Alfred Makhathini told Reuters.
South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) has said it will hold vigils each day that the former leader remains in hospital. South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) said it would hold vigils each day that the former leader remained in hospital, and the distinctive black, green and gold colours of the party are much in evidence.
US President Barack Obama, who is due to fly to South Africa later on Friday, described Mr Mandela as "a hero for the world". But the party denied it was exploiting the occasion to canvas for votes ahead of next year's elections.
"His legacy will linger on through the ages," he said, while on a visit to Senegal on Thursday. "We love our ANC regalia and we have every right to wish Madiba well," Jackson Mthembu, the party's spokesman who made a brief appearance, said.