Ailing Mandela is all smiles for Clinton

Hillary Clinton meets up with her friend and former South African president, Nelson Mandela, yesterday during her multi-nation tour through Africa (Reuters)

Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State, praised the "beautiful" smile of her friend and former South African president, Nelson Mandela, when they met at his home yesterday during her multi-nation tour through Africa.

Mr Mandela, in failing health, has only seen a few visitors outside his family in recent years. The 94-year-old smiled for a picture, but he did not speak in the presence of reporters. "That's a beautiful smile!" Ms Clinton said. A day earlier, America's top diplomat had been in Malawi, where she tried on a traditional skirt at a project run by the US Peace Corps in Lilongwe.

REUTERS