Mbeki visits Cuba

The South African President, Thabo Mbeki, is in Cuba for a three-day visit -- the first by a South African head of state.

Mr Mbeki is to meet President Fidel Castro and deliver a speech at the University of Havana, before unveiling a statue to the former head of the African National Congress, Oliver Tambo.

Officials say Mr Mbeki's trip is intended to strengthen economic, health and educational ties: Cuba was one of the strongest backers of the struggle against apartheid, and many South Africans are now studying there. The BBC correspondent says that the visit is also part of the Cuban government's continuous search for allies in the international political arena.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service