Mbeki visits Cuba

The South African President, Thabo Mbeki, has arrived in the Cuban capital Havana on a four day state visit, the first by a South African head of state.

Mr Mbeki's trip is intended to strengthen economic, health and educational ties.

Cuba was a main backer of the struggle against apartheid, and the Cuban leader, Fidel Castro, is a personal friend of the former South African president, Nelson Mandela.

President Mbeki is expected to deliver a key-note speech on the theme of African renaissance. At present hundreds of Cuban doctors work in South Africa, while around two hundred South africans are studying at Cuban medical schools

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service