Mandela flays US interference

8220;How can they have the arrogance to dictate to us where we should go or who our friends should be? They are so dull,8221; Mandela was quoted by the South African paper Sunday Independent as telling an audience of 500 influential business people and politicians in Johannesburg on Friday.

Playing down the dispute with the South African President, United States today said that it has 8220;the highest respect8221; for President Mandela, but expressed 8220;disappointment8221; over his decision to visit Libya.

In Cairo, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and South African President Nelson Mandela exchanged medals of honour. Mubarak decorated Mandela yesterday with the 8220;Collar of the Nile8221; which is the highest honour in Egypt, while Mandela decorated Mubarak with the order of good hope which is the highest honour in South Africa.