奧巴馬前往南非

U.S. President Barack Obama is on his way to South Africa, continuing a three-nation African tour aimed at expanding U.S. engagement on the continent.

Mr. Obama departed Senegal Friday, after a two-day visit where he met with President Macky Sall and promoted democracy and rule of law. The president also made an emotional visit to Goree Island, a symbol of the 18th century slave trade.

It is not clear whether the South African leg of Mr. Obama's trip will include a visit with anti-apartheid legend Nelson Mandela, who is critically ill in a Pretoria hospital. White House officials said Thursday any such visit would be up to the Mandela family.

On Saturday, President Obama plans to visit Robben Island, the prison where Mr. Mandela spent much of his 27 years behind bars.

President Obama paid tribute to the ailing former South African leader Thursday, calling him a "hero for the world."美國總統奧巴馬前往南非，繼續非洲3國之行，這次訪問的目的是擴大美國與非洲國家的交往。

奧巴馬總統星期五離開塞內加爾，結束了對這個國家爲期兩天的訪問。他在那裏會晤了塞內加爾總統薩勒，提出倡導民主和法治的理念。奧巴馬總統還參觀了戈雷島，該島是18世紀奴隸販運的象徵地。

目前還不清楚奧巴馬在訪問南非期間是否將探視反種族隔離傳奇人物曼德拉。曼德拉住在比勒陀利亞一家醫院，病情危重。白宮官員星期四說，奧巴馬是否前往探視將取決於曼德拉的家人。

星期六，奧巴馬總統計劃訪問羅本島，曼德拉曾在那裏度過27年的監獄鐵窗生涯。

奧巴馬總統星期四向病情垂危的前南非領導人曼德拉表達敬意，稱他爲“全世界的英雄”。