Queen Rania, Jordanian PM to attend Mandela's funeral

Jordanian King Abdullah II assigned Queen Rania al-Abdullah and Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour to attend the funeral of South Africa’s liberation leader and its former president Nelson Mandela. According to a statement issued by the Jordanian Royal Court, the Jordanian monarch sent a cable of condolences to President of South Africa Jacob Zuma, in which he expressed his deepest condolences and sympathy over the death of Mandela, who devoted his life to serve his country and realize its freedom and independence. The King paid tribute to the international symbol, who devoted his life to defend issues of justice, peace and freedom in the world. Mandela, South Africa’s first black president, died on December 5 at the age of 95 after battling a lung illness. He fought the then apartheid regime in South Africa which led to his arrest and imprisonment. He was also jailed for 27 years until he was released unconditionally under the administration of former president FW de Klerk, the last white president of South Africa. Mandela was elected president in 1994 serving one term until 1999.