Madiba's statue takes pride of place in Britain

Britain honoured Mandela with a statue erected at the Parliament square in London

Nelson Mandela looked on as a statue of himself was unveiled outside the Houses of Parliament in London today. The 2.7 metre bronze sculpture stands alongside figures of Winston Churchill and Abraham Lincoln, recognising Mandela as one of the greatest leaders of his time. The ceremony was held at Parliament square in London as a celebration of the achievements of the 89-year-old former president of South Africa.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown unveiled the statue along with Wendy Woods, widow of anti-apartheid campaigner Donald Woods, and London mayor Ken Livingstone. Brown described the statue, designed by Ian Walters, as the "beacon of hope that signals to anyone suffering injustice anywhere that their suffering will not last for ever, will never be in vain, and will be overcome."

In response to the gesture, Mandela expressed his gratitude and said that the statue should symbolise the efforts of all liberation struggle icons. During the ceremony it emerged that the prime minister had named Madiba's wife, Graca Machel, a Dame.

During Madiba's speech after the statue unveiling, he said that "even though the statue is of one man, it symbolises all those who stood against oppression". He also announced that next year on June 28 there would be a music concert in aid of 46664 in Hyde Park in London.