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| Obama Meets With Mandela Family as Vigil Continues | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| JOHANNESBURG — President Obama and the first lady, Michelle Obama, met privately on Saturday with the family of Nelson Mandela, the 94-year-old former president of South Africa, who remains in critical condition at a hospital in the capital, Pretoria. | |
| The meeting lasted for about a half-hour, enough time for a small crowd to gather outside in time for the president’s departure, The Associated Press reported. | The meeting lasted for about a half-hour, enough time for a small crowd to gather outside in time for the president’s departure, The Associated Press reported. |
| “Our thoughts and those of Americans and people all around the world are with Nelson Mandela and his family and all of South Africans,” Mr. Obama told reporters at a news conference earlier with Jacob Zuma, the president of South Africa. | “Our thoughts and those of Americans and people all around the world are with Nelson Mandela and his family and all of South Africans,” Mr. Obama told reporters at a news conference earlier with Jacob Zuma, the president of South Africa. |
| Mr. Obama, however, will not meet with Mr. Mandela, the White House reported, in accordance with the family’s wishes. | Mr. Obama, however, will not meet with Mr. Mandela, the White House reported, in accordance with the family’s wishes. |
| Mr. Mandela has been ill since being admitted to the hospital three weeks ago for a chronic lung infection. His condition turned critical, according to South African officials, just as Mr. Obama headed toward the African continent for a weeklong trip. | |
| The White House had originally hoped to spotlight the two men together, offering a generational tableau of the first black leaders in both countries. Mr. Obama said as he flew to South Africa on Friday that he did not need “a photo-op” while he is in the country. | |
| Saturday’s meeting with the family took place at the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory, which is part of Mr. Mandela’s foundation. The White House did not say which Mandela family members would attend. | |
| Mr. Obama still plans to salute Mr. Mandela’s life with a visit on Sunday to Robben Island, the prison where Mr. Mandela spent 18 years in a tiny cell. White House officials said Friday night that there was no change in the schedule, though Mr. Obama promised to “gauge the situation” based on Mr. Mandela’s condition and his family’s wishes. | |
| Mr. Obama praised South Africa’s struggle for freedom and Mr. Mandela’s “moral courage,” which he said has been an “inspiration for the world.” He noted that he visited Robben Island several years ago as a senator. | |
| But, he said he looked forward to taking his two daughters to the tiny prison cell to “teach them the history of that place and this country, and to help them understand not only how those lessons apply to their own lives,” but also more broadly. | But, he said he looked forward to taking his two daughters to the tiny prison cell to “teach them the history of that place and this country, and to help them understand not only how those lessons apply to their own lives,” but also more broadly. |
| Also at the news conference, Mr. Obama expressed concern about the latest wave of unrest and protests in Egypt, saying that the American government’s No. 1 priority is to make sure its personnel in embassies and consulates in the area are safe. He said American officials were in direct conversations with the Egyptian government about that issue. | Also at the news conference, Mr. Obama expressed concern about the latest wave of unrest and protests in Egypt, saying that the American government’s No. 1 priority is to make sure its personnel in embassies and consulates in the area are safe. He said American officials were in direct conversations with the Egyptian government about that issue. |
| Mr. Obama said his administration supported “peaceful protests and peaceful methods of bringing about change.” But he urged all sides to denounce violence as a means to achieving their ends. | Mr. Obama said his administration supported “peaceful protests and peaceful methods of bringing about change.” But he urged all sides to denounce violence as a means to achieving their ends. |
| “We do not take sides in terms of who should be elected by the Egyptian people,” Mr. Obama said. “We do take sides in terms of observing a process for democracy and the rule of law.” | “We do not take sides in terms of who should be elected by the Egyptian people,” Mr. Obama said. “We do take sides in terms of observing a process for democracy and the rule of law.” |