UAE president sends condolences on Mandela's death

President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nayhan sent on Friday cable of condolences to his South African counterpart Jacob Zuma on the death of anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela. In his cable, the UAE president called Mandela, South Africa's former leader, "a symbol of peace and an exceptional personality whose wisdom, tenacity, humility and qualities of leadership enabled him to overcome the bitterness of the apartheid era," local news agency WAM reported. Khalifa, in the name of the UAE, expressed his heartfelt sympathy to Mandela's family and the people of South Africa on their loss. "The world has lost a true fighter and a formidable leader for peace, freedom and equality. He was a voice of justice, human dignity and goodwill for all of humanity," said the UAE leader. Best known for his long struggle against apartheid, Mandela passed away Thursday night at the age of 95 in his home in Johannesburg following a prolonged battle with a lung infection.