Brown honours 'courageous' Mandela ahead of statue unveiling

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2007

LONDON (AFP) — Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Tuesday praised former South African President Nelson Mandela as "the greatest and most courageous leader of our generation" ahead of the unveiling of a statue in his honour.

Brown made the tribute outside his Downing Street base, just a day before a statue of the Nobel prize-winner is due to be unveiled in front of parliament. It will stand alongside those of former British prime ministers Winston Churchill and Benjamin Disraeli.

"I'm proud to welcome to Downing Street the most inspiring, the greatest and most courageous leader of our generation," said Brown, standing in front of 10 Downing Street.

Mandela, who said he was proud to visit Downing Street, joked: "My wife and I are happy to be here because, as you...