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| Obama flies to S Africa ruling out Mandela 'photo op' | Obama flies to S Africa ruling out Mandela 'photo op' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| 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. | 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. |
| He told reporters on board Air Force One: "I don't need a photo op." | He told reporters on board Air Force One: "I don't need a photo op." |
| Mr Obama is heading to Johannesburg from Senegal, which was the first stop in his three-country tour of Africa. | Mr Obama is heading to Johannesburg from Senegal, which was the first stop in his three-country tour of Africa. |
| Meanwhile, Mr Mandela's ex-wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela said the former leader had made "a great improvement" in recent days. | Meanwhile, Mr Mandela's ex-wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela said the former leader had made "a great improvement" in recent days. |
| "I'm not a doctor but I can say that from what he was a few days ago there is great improvement," she told reporters outside Mr Mandela's former home in Soweto. | "I'm not a doctor but I can say that from what he was a few days ago there is great improvement," she told reporters outside Mr Mandela's former home in Soweto. |
| "But clinically he is still unwell." | "But clinically he is still unwell." |
| She also thanked domestic and international media for their coverage, but added that some of the reports had caused the family distress. | She also thanked domestic and international media for their coverage, but added that some of the reports had caused the family distress. |
| "We had no idea of the love for us out there," she said. | "We had no idea of the love for us out there," she said. |
| "There may be problems here and there when some of you get carried away and talk about our father in the past tense," she said, adding: | "There may be problems here and there when some of you get carried away and talk about our father in the past tense," she said, adding: |
| "If sometimes we sound bitter, it is because we are dealing with a difficult situation." | "If sometimes we sound bitter, it is because we are dealing with a difficult situation." |
| Earlier this week, Mr Mandela's eldest daughter criticised the international media camped outside the hospital in Pretoria where he is being treated, calling them "vultures". | Earlier this week, Mr Mandela's eldest daughter criticised the international media camped outside the hospital in Pretoria where he is being treated, calling them "vultures". |
| Meanwhile, a court in the Eastern 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. | |
| The BBC's Pumza Fihlani in Johannesburg says this is one of the reasons why the family held a meeting earlier this week. | The BBC's Pumza Fihlani in Johannesburg says this is one of the reasons why the family held a meeting earlier this week. |
| The family has been keen to resolve this issue while Mr Mandela remains in hospital. | The family has been keen to resolve this issue while Mr Mandela remains in hospital. |
| 'Profound gratitude' | '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. | 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. | 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." | "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." | 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. | 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 many goodwill messages left for Mr Mandela outside Pretoria's Mediclinic Heart Hospital, where the 94-year-old is being treated for a lung infection. | A picture of Barack Obama sat among the many goodwill messages left for Mr Mandela outside Pretoria's Mediclinic Heart Hospital, where the 94-year-old is being treated for a lung infection. |
| Ministers, politicians, Mr Mandela's physician and family members were among those visiting Mr Mandela on Friday, his 21st day in hospital. | Ministers, politicians, Mr Mandela's physician and family members were among those visiting Mr Mandela on Friday, his 21st day in hospital. |
| There are mixed emotions among the well-wishers gathering outside, the BBC's Karen Allen reports from the scene. People are anxious about his health but also want to express their pride in the man many consider the father of the nation. | There are mixed emotions among the well-wishers gathering outside, the BBC's Karen Allen reports from the scene. People are anxious about his health but also want to express their pride in the man many consider the father of the nation. |
| "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) 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. | 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. |
| But the party denied it was exploiting the occasion to canvas for votes ahead of next year's elections. | But the party denied it was exploiting the occasion to canvas for votes ahead of next year's elections. |
| "We love our ANC regalia and we have every right to wish Madiba well," party spokesman Jackson Mthembu said. | "We love our ANC regalia and we have every right to wish Madiba well," party spokesman Jackson Mthembu said. |