Forty-first President George H.W.
Bush prematurely announced former South African President Nelson
Mandela's death Sunday morning.
The mix-up happened when President Bush's spokesman Jim McGrath misread a Washington Post news flash.
'The
41 stmnt sent this morning was the result of my mis-reading the header
on the WaPo news flash. Stupid mistake by me. Apologies to all,' Mr
McGrath tweeted Sunday morning.
Rais Mstaafu wa Marekani,
George H.W.
Bush
The original statement read: 'Barbara
and I mourn the passing of one of the greatest believers in freedom we
have had the privilege to know.
As President, I watched in wonder as
Nelson Mandela had the remarkable capacity to forgive his jailers
following 26 years of wrongful imprisonment — setting a powerful example
of redemption and grace for us all.
He was a man of tremendous moral
courage, who changed the course of history in his country. Barbara and I
had great respect for President Mandela, and send our condolences to
his family and countrymen.'
Mr Bush's spokesman Jim McGrath misread a
Washington Post headline, and quickly apologized for the mix-up on his
Twitter page
The South African presidency corrected the statement, saying Mandela is still alive.
'It
is clearly incorrect. We see it as an error on his side' and aren't
going to 'make a big deal about it' presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj
said.
Nelson
Mandela was discharged from the hospital Sunday after initially being
admitted in June for a lung infection. He is still in critical
condition.
Mr Mandela was taken by ambulance to his home in Johannesburg which has been set up to provide intensive care.
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