Clinton visits Nelson Mandela in South Africa

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton meets with former South Africa President Nelson Mandela, 94, at his home in Qunu, South Africa, Aug. 6, 2012. / AP Photo

(AP) QUNU, South Africa - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton visited with Nelson Mandela at his home on Monday to pay her respects to the aging South African icon.

Clinton and a small group flew to the 94-year-old Mandela's home village of Qunu, where they reminisced and had a small private lunch.

Clinton and Mandela's wife, Graca Machel, talked as photographers snapped pictures and Mandela looked on smiling from his wingback chair.

"That's a beautiful smile!" Clinton said.

"Madiba's smile is a trademark," Machel said, affectionately referring to Mandela by his Xhosa clan name.

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Afterwards, Clinton, Machel and the others went into the main dining room for lunch. Mandela remained in the living room with his medical attendants.

The former president of South Africa has homes in Johannesburg and Qunu. In recent years, he has spent more and more time in Qunu and in May, it was announced that he would stay there indefinitely.

Mandela, a Nobel peace laureate who spent 27 years in prison for fighting racist white rule, has retired from public life.

27 Photos

Nelson Mandela's 94th birthday celebration

[samXXkiley]

coucou,
it is a nice touch on the part of Hillary Clinton, Nelson Mandela deserves all the honors,
My best wishes to Madiba, he seems radiant.
"au revoir"

[BoJet]

Remember the victims of the Church Street bombing, I always do when I see a picture of a politician crawling to Mandela. 19 dead, 217 wounded. He acknowledges he "signed off" this barbarous act. Mandela is no hero, just a retired terrorist.