US President Barack Obama flies to South Africa today hoping to pay homage to Nelson Mandela, who is critically ill in hospital.

US President George W Bush yesterday pledged to work with the United Nations and African states to maintain a fragile ceasefire in Liberia, but said no decision had been made yet on sending US peacekeepers.

US President George Bush began his Africa tour today with a tribute to slaves who he said had endured the “one of the greatest crimes of history”.