Politicians shot down plans to honour Nelson Mandela with the freedom of Dublin just five years before he was eventually awarded the accolade, classified files have revealed.

WHEN Dr Kadar Asmal died recently in Cape Town, South Africa, he left a world that is poorer for his passing but so much morally and socially richer for his living.

IRELAND’s increasing levels of racism and a rising intolerance of foreigners came in for severe criticism yesterday from South African’s Education Minister, Kadar Asmal.