Bill Clinton visits Mandela's home

QUNU, (South Africa): Former president Bill Clinton hailed his close ties with Nelson Mandela before visiting the anti-apartheid icon�s home in his childhood village ahead of his 94th birthday. Clinton spent two hours inside Mandela�s family compound in Qunu, the picturesque south-eastern village where Mandela grew up. Media were barred from entering the area and Clinton left without speaking. Before the visit Clinton opened a library at a primary school together with Mandela�s wife, Graca Machel, and daughter Zindzi ahead of the statesman�s birthday Wednesday. �Even though he will be 94 tomorrow, when I think about Mandela I always think about someone committed to the future,� he said afterwards. �It was a great honour for me to serve as a president of America while Mandela was president of the Republic of South Africa. �We worked together as presidents and even after we left office we continued working together to improve education of the children worldwide in order for them to share the future,� he added. Mandela�s wife Graca thanked �the family of Clinton for being with the family of Mandela because each and every birthday president Clinton has always availed himself.� �As the Mandela family we really appreciate the bond between these two families,� said Machel. In 2009 the United Nations declared July 18 as International Mandela Day, aimed at getting people all over the world to volunteer for good causes.�AFP

QUNU, (South Africa): Former president Bill Clinton hailed his close ties with Nelson Mandela before visiting the anti-apartheid icon�s home in his childhood village ahead of his 94th birthday. Clinton spent two hours inside Mandela�s family compound in Qunu, the picturesque south-eastern village where Mandela grew up. Media were barred from entering the area and Clinton left without speaking. Before the visit Clinton opened a library at a primary school together with Mandela�s wife, Graca Machel, and daughter Zindzi ahead of the statesman�s birthday Wednesday. �Even though he will be 94 tomorrow, when I think about Mandela I always think about someone committed to the future,� he said afterwards. �It was a great honour for me to serve as a president of America while Mandela was president of the Republic of South Africa. �We worked together as presidents and even after we left office we continued working together to improve education of the children worldwide in order for them to share the future,� he added. Mandela�s wife Graca thanked �the family of Clinton for being with the family of Mandela because each and every birthday president Clinton has always availed himself.� �As the Mandela family we really appreciate the bond between these two families,� said Machel. In 2009 the United Nations declared July 18 as International Mandela Day, aimed at getting people all over the world to volunteer for good causes.�AFP