Nelson Mandela to celebrate 90th birthday in London

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Nelson Mandela. Photo: EFE

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• Huge concert is organized in London honoring Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday

Nelson Mandela uttered just four words criticizing Zimbabwe's leadership, but they were enough to resonate around the world.

The elder African statesman is in London to celebrate his upcoming 90th birthday, including meetings with the prime minister and the queen, dinner with A-list celebrities and a star-studded concert for 50,000 fans on Friday.

That event now looks like being overshadowed by events in troubled Zimbabwe, where widely condemned elections are due to be held on the same day.

Although basking in the adoration he traditionally enjoys on visits abroad, Mandela, a man seen as a rare moral authority, has been under increasing pressure during his stay in Britain to condemn Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe.

In a speech at a dinner late on Wednesday, Mandela highlighted several global crises including poverty, the Middle East, Iraq and Darfur before referring to a "tragic failure of leadership" in Zimbabwe.

While brief, the phrase hit the headlines with many commentators reporting Mandela had "broken his silence". He officially retired from politics nine years ago.

Friday's concert has been organized to raise funds for Mandela's AIDS/HIV charity called 46664, named after the prison number he was given during more than a quarter of a century behind bars for his stand against South African apartheid.

The crowd in London's Hyde Park is expected to number 46,664 people who will hear the likes of Annie Lennox, Queen, Leona Lewis and, health permitting, Amy Winehouse performing.