Obama, Cameron pose for ‘selfie’ at service

Leaders criticised for inappropriate behaviour at Nelson Mandela service

British prime minster David Cameron and US president Barack Obama posed for a mobile phone "selfie" at Nelson Mandela's memorial service today.

The two men were seated on either side of Danish prime minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt and smiled as she took the snapshot of the three leaders at the FNB Stadium in Soweto.

The image of Mr Obama, Mr Cameron and the Danish leader taking the photo quickly went viral on the internet — and led to a backlash from Twitter users who said it was inappropriate behaviour at an event to remember the life of the anti-apartheid hero, who died last week aged 95.

Twitter user jamesarmitage3 wrote: “What selfish morons take a ‘selfie’ at a memorial service? Oh yeah that’s right, Barack Obama and David Cameron.”

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In a message directed at Mr Cameron Sarah McDermott, using the Twitter name toxicsayonara, said: “You have precisely zero class or decorum.”

Ms Thorning-Schmidt is married to Lord Kinnock's son Stephen, prompting questions about how the former Labour leader would feel about the image.

Writing on Twitter, Mel Huang said: "I wonder if Neil Kinnock got an ulcer seeing his daughter-in-law do a selfie with David Cameron...at a memorial service."

PA