Mandela begins SE Asian tour

Mandela begins SE Asian tour

MANILA (Reuter): South African President Nelson Mandela, accompanied for the first time on a state visit by his Mozambican sweetheart, arrived in Manila yesterday at the start of his maiden tour of southeast Asia.

"This part of the world has made fantastic achievements economically and politically," Mandela told reporters. "I have looked forward to coming to this region because of the enormous lessons which we can learn in trying to raise the living conditions of our people."

Mandela and Graca Machel, the 51-year-old widow of former Mozambican president Somora Machel, were greeted by a 21-gun salute and a welcome with full military honors at the presidential palace in Manila.

Philippine president Fidel Ramos hailed Mandela as "one of the towering figures of the century".

"His struggle changed the face of race relations across the world," Ramos told a news conference.

"Visiting the Republic of the Philippines is the fulfillment of a long and cherished dream, an unforgettable experience," Mandela wrote in the visitors book at the palace.

Mandela introduced Graca, dressed in maroon and gold, as his "companion" to Ramos, who smiled and shook hands with her.

Asked by a reporter later if a wedding was in the offing, the 78-year-old Mandela said: "My cultural background does not permit me to discuss this question with people young enough to be my children or grandchildren".

Ramos, standing next to him, laughed and clapped, and Mandela would not speak more on the subject.

Mandela was divorced from his second wife Winnie last year after a bitter court battle in which he acknowledged she had been unfaithful to him. His first wife Evelyn lives in the rural south coast Transkei, where he has built a retirement home.

He leaves for Brunei tomorrow and will visit Malaysia and Singapore before returning to South Africa.