Mandela fires parting shot at Britain and US over Iraq

1.00pm - By BASILDON PETA

In a parting shot before fading from the public limelight, former South African President Nelson Mandela fired a broadside at Britain and the United States for their alleged abuse of Iraqi prisoners and for invading the country in the first place.

Mr Mandela, who turns 86 in July, was addressing a special joint session of the South African legislature to mark South Africa's decade of democracy.

"We watch as two of the leading democracies, two leading nations of the free world, get involved in a war that the United Nations did not sanction," said Mr Mandela.

"We look on with horror as reports surface of terrible abuses against the dignity of human beings held captive by invading forces in their own country."

"We see how the powerful countries - all of them democracies - manipulate multilateral bodies to the great disadvantage and suffering of the poorer developing nations," he said.

"There is enough reason for cynicism and despair," he added.

Mr Mandela, who became president after the first all-race elections in 1994 that buried apartheid, remained in the public spotlight after retiring from politics in 1999 after one term in office.

No leader, except President George Bush last year, has visited South Africa and missed an opportunity to pay a courtesy call on Mr Mandela. After branding Mr Bush "a leader who cannot think properly" for invading Iraq, there were little prospects the two would meet.

Mr Mandela applauded the Parliament for changing its rules to allow itself to be addressed by a "a retired old pensioner".

He recalled the hope and confidence he felt at the time of the elections in 1999.

"The national climate was one of magnanimity and a great generosity of spirit. As a people we were enormously proud of what we had achieved, negotiating among ourselves a peaceful resolution to what was one of the most intractable situations of conflict in the world," he said.

But he said there was still a long way to go entering the second decade of democracy as poverty, unemployment, preventable disease threaten the democratic commitment of a better life for all.

"Nothing impairs the dignity of a person so much as not being able to find work... HIV/AIDS continues to threaten our future in a particularly frightening manner," Mandela said.

Mr De Klerk, who freed Mr Mandela after 27 years in jail, described him as the giant of the transformation that brought democracy.

Two minor opposition parties unsuccessfully tried to stop De Klerk from addressing the session, arguing Mr De Klerk had served apartheid.

It seems the hectic workload has finally taken its toll on the frail Mandela and he is expected to settle into "real retirement".

- INDEPENDENT