Obama tours Mandela's island prison

President Barack Obama is paying tribute to the man who inspired his political activism by taking his family on a tour of the island prison where anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela spent 18 years.

Mr Obama’s visit to Robben Island comes as Mr Mandela remains in hospital for a third week in a critical condition. Mr Obama was near the Pretoria hospital yesterday but did not see him and instead met privately with Mr Mandela’s relatives.