Zuma attacks 'old-fashioned imperialists' over press digs

SOUTH African president Jacob Zuma and his latest wife, Thobeka Madiba Zuma, were greeted on the steps of 10 Downing Street by Gordon and Sarah Brown yesterday.

Mr Zuma raised eyebrows by branding the British as old-fashioned imperialists just hours before he was officially greeted by the Queen.

The South African president has apparently been angered by his host country's "obsession" with his colourful life, which includes five wives, a love child with the daughter of one of his political allies, a criminal trial for the alleged rape of an HIV-positive woman, and corruption charges

In an interview yesterday, the 67-year-old, who was cleared of rape and fought off the corruption charges, insisted he had been unfairly portrayed and described himself as a "freedom fighter" under attack by "colonial" bigots.

"When the British came to our country they said everything we did was barbaric, was wrong, inferior in whatever way," he said.

"Bear in mind that I'm a freedom fighter and I fought to free myself, also for my culture to be respected. I don't know why they are continuing thinking that their culture is more superior than others, those who might have said so. I am very clear on these issues, I've not looked down upon any culture of anyone, and no-one has been given an authority to judge others.

"The British have done that before, as they colonised us, and they continue to do this, and it's an unfortunate thing."

Mr Zuma's spokesman insisted that the president's comments would have no bearing on his three-day trip and were "not aimed at the British public in general, but at certain sections of the media".