Mandela's birthday marked by public service pledges

Millions of South African schoolchildren began their day by singing a special version of Happy Birthday to former President Nelson Mandela yesterday, leading a worldwide chorus of birthday wishes on his 93rd birthday.

South Africa's current president, Jacob Zuma, paid a visit to Mr Mandela in his home village of Qunu, some 600 miles south of Johannesburg. Mr Zuma spent more than two hours with the former president, before leaving with members of the Mandela family, including the icon's former wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.

Photos released of Mr Mandela showed the 93-year-old smiling broadly while sitting in a yellow fabric arm chair surrounded by relatives. US President Barack Obama called him "a beacon for the global community, and for all who work for democracy, justice and reconciliation".

Mr Zuma said: "I came to spend time with the Mandela family, to rejoice with them, but also to eat cake."

People around the world were asked to mark his birthday by giving 67 minutes of their time to work in their local community - one minute for every year of Mr Mandela's public service.

He became South Africa's first black president in 1994 after spending 27 years in prison for his fight against apartheid rule, and was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts.