Mr Blair will make a stop at a home for children orphaned by AIDS and will also address the South African parliament on the 'Third Way'.

But the visit could be marred by violence following clashes on Thursday between police and a group of radical Muslims protesting against the Anglo-American air strikes on Iraq.

About 300 supporters of the Muslims Against Global Oppression (MAGO) group gathered at a mosque on the outskirts of central Cape Town, but were denied permission to march by heavily armed police.

Mr Blair has had talks with Nelson Mandela and his deputy

One banner carried by the demonstrators read: 'Blair - Blood is on your hands.' 'United States, United Kingdom, United Terrorists', said another.

The marchers dispersed after several hours, but dozens soon regrouped outside the American consulate, where they burnt US and Israeli flags and chanted slogans like 'Death to America' and 'One Blair - one bullet'.

An armoured vehicle tried to force the protesters to move on but they responded by beating on it with sticks until police fired tear gas. Police scuffled with marchers as they bundled several members of the group into a van.

The marchers later moved on to the British High Commission and burnt British flags outside the offices.

One of the men who was arrested, MAGO leader Moain Achmad, said from inside jail that the group would hold more protests on Friday when Mr Blair is due in Cape Town.

Muslim groups objecting to Mr Blair's visit are most likely to cause disruption while he is awarding medals to British troops who have been helping construct a multi-racial South African army.

Violent city

Security is certain to be tight for Mr Blair's visit to Cape Town, a city which has particularly high levels of violence.

Concerns over his visit were heightened after three people were injured on New Year's Day in a bomb at Cape Town's popular Waterfront tourist area. The prime minister was originally due to spend two days in the city, but cut that back to one.

More than 600 bombs - most of them small and home-made exploded in the province last year.

But the police have failed to secure a single conviction in connection with the bombings, or for the attack on the Planet Hollywood restaurant in August which killed two and injured 25 people.