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Mandela not to go to Iraq as human shield or as mediator
Durban, Mar 11: Former South African president Nelson Mandela will not travel to Iraq as a `human shield` or as a mediator, his spokesperson said today.
Durban, Mar 11: Former South African president Nelson
Mandela will not travel to Iraq as a "human shield" or as a
mediator, his spokesperson said today.
Mandela, 84, has decided not to accompany the 40 South Africans, who are travelling to Iraq soon to act as "human shields", due to old age as well as to complete his biography, his spokesperson Zelda La Grange said.
Besides, Mandela was advised by his friends and family members not to travel to Iraq, grange added.
"Based on the Burundi peace process experience, Mandela's advisors are convinced that he will not be in a position to embark on yet another very strenuous and gruelling peace process", she said.
"Moreover, Mandela has taken six months off to write his memoirs on his presidential term. After six months we may find that he needs more time and that time will be allocated to write his book to ensure that his experiences of that important period of our history are documented," she said.
Mandela has repeatedly criticised US President George W Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, for being hell bent on pursuing war against Iraq.
Meanwhile, the South African parliament is to discuss on country's stance at the back drop of the latest crisis on Iraq following the stand taken by the United States.
Government wanted parliament to fully debate the futility of war against Iraq, deputy foreign minister Aziz Pahad said, adding South Africa had been doing best to avert the war and disarm Iraq peacefully.
Bureau Report
Mandela, 84, has decided not to accompany the 40 South Africans, who are travelling to Iraq soon to act as "human shields", due to old age as well as to complete his biography, his spokesperson Zelda La Grange said.
Besides, Mandela was advised by his friends and family members not to travel to Iraq, grange added.
"Based on the Burundi peace process experience, Mandela's advisors are convinced that he will not be in a position to embark on yet another very strenuous and gruelling peace process", she said.
"Moreover, Mandela has taken six months off to write his memoirs on his presidential term. After six months we may find that he needs more time and that time will be allocated to write his book to ensure that his experiences of that important period of our history are documented," she said.
Mandela has repeatedly criticised US President George W Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, for being hell bent on pursuing war against Iraq.
Meanwhile, the South African parliament is to discuss on country's stance at the back drop of the latest crisis on Iraq following the stand taken by the United States.
Government wanted parliament to fully debate the futility of war against Iraq, deputy foreign minister Aziz Pahad said, adding South Africa had been doing best to avert the war and disarm Iraq peacefully.
Bureau Report