Breaking News English

U.S. President Barack Obama has Nelson Mandela as a personal inspiration while on a visit to South Africa. Mr Obama to visit Mr Mandela due to the former South African president's poor health. A White House statement : "Out of deference to Nelson Mandela's peace and comfort and the family's wishes, [the Obamas] will not be the hospital." Obama it clear to reporters on Air Force One that he had no intention of Mr Mandela's health any further at risk, : "I don't a photo op….The last thing I to do is to be in any way obtrusive at a time when the family is about Nelson Mandela's condition."

President Obama Mandela a "personal hero" and that Mandela's sacrifices to equal rights inspire his own political career. While to South Africa, Obama told reporters: "The main message we'll want to …is simply a profound gratitude for his leadership all these years, and that the thoughts and prayers of the American people are with him and his family and his country." Obama later university students in Pretoria to lessons from Mandela's strength while he was in prison for 27 years. He said: "Think about the hardships and the struggles and away from family and friends. There were dark moments that his faith in humanity, but he to give up."