Toronto - President Nelson Mandela of South Africa was taken ill suffering from fatigue in Toronto yesterday and forced to cancel a press conference at the end of his otherwise wildly successful North American tour.
However, the 80-year-old Mr Mandela was expected to make a "brief appearance" at a gala banquet in his honour last night hosted by the Canadian Prime Minister, Mr Jean Chretien, according to Mr Chretien's office.
Senior officials with Mr Mandela had said earlier, after the visibly unsteady President was escorted from a lunch with South African and Canadian businessmen, that they would recommend he not attend the dinner.
Mr Jake Gerwel, Mr Mandela's cabinet chief, told reporters that his boss was "suffering from fatigue" and that he and others had persuaded him to leave the lunch after delivering a speech. But Mr Gerwel added that Mr Mandela had been examined by his doctor and that he had been given "a perfect bill of health."