South Africa's Zuma clutches Queen's hand on state visit (Roundup)

Mar 3, 2010, 16:52 GMT

London/Johannesburg - South African President Jacob Zuma, known for his love of African song and dance, was Wednesday given a British-style welcome of pomp and circumstance during a state visit in London.

The 67-year-old African leader, accompanied by his latest wife, Thobeka Madiba Zuma, clasped the outstretched gloved hand of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II with both of his hands during the official greeting at Horse Guards Parade near parliament.

The two heads of state and their spouses had earlier travelled by royal carriage from Buckingham Palace, where Zuma is staying, to inspect a glittering guard of honour and hear the two nations' anthems played.

A note of discord sewn by Zuma before his arrival was politely ignored by his hosts, who are clearly aware not only of his colourful private life, but also of his outspoken political views formed largely by years of experience in the struggle against apartheid.

In remarks made to South Africa's The Star newspaper before he left for London, Zuma criticized Britain's alleged 'superior' attitude towards Africans.

'When the British came to our country, they said everything we are doing was barbaric, was wrong, inferior in whatever way. Bear in mind that I'm a freedom fighter and I fought to free myself, also for my culture to be respected,' the African National Congress (ANC) party leader told the paper.

However Prime Minister Gordon Brown's office declined to comment Wednesday, saying only that Britain welcomed the visit by the head of state of South Africa as a 'very important member of the international community.'

Brown, who was present at the welcoming ceremony, is due to have talks with Zuma Thursday.

The discussions are expected to focus on Zuma's controversial demand for a lifting of sanctions against Zimbabwe, the world economy, the environment and the football World Cup to be hosted by South Africa this summer.

Later Wednesday, the queen was to host a state banquet in the lavish ballroom of Buckingham Palace. Zuma's keynote speech was due at a banquet in London's Guildhall Thursday.

Zuma and his wife will also inspect the site for London's 2012 Olympics and visit the former London home of ANC veteran Oliver Tambo.

Buckingham Palace said Zuma presented the queen with a chess set featuring Zulu and Xhosa warriors in traditional dress - similar to one that had been given to Prince Philip by former president Nelson Mandela during a state visit in 1996.

When spotting the rival present on display at the Palace picture gallery, a surprised Zuma remarked: 'Oh, that's another set,' royal reporters revealed.

In the run-up to the visit, Zuma's controversial lifestyle as a self-confessed polygamist had been highlighted by some of the British media.

Much of the coverage focused on recent revelations that the president fathered a child out of wedlock last year with a woman that is neither one of his three wives, nor his fiancee.

The affair caused a scandal in South Africa, where it raised questions about Zuma's fitness to lead and reignited a debate over the acceptability of polygamy.

London's Guardian newspaper wondered whether Zuma's 'colourful CV' would discomfit the queen but concluded that, 'given the range of distinctly ropey state visitors she has greeted during her 58 years on the throne it seems unlikely.'

The Daily Mail described Zuma as 'a buffoon' and 'a sex-obsessed bigot' and claimed he had 35 children.

The official number given by Zuma's office is 20.

'The British have done that before (look down on Africans), as they colonised us, and they continue to do this, and it's an unfortunate thing,' Zuma said, adding: 'If people want an engagement, I'm sure we will engage on that issue.'

Zuma's visit to Britain, where he will be seeking to reassure investors that his centre-left administration is not undertaking any radical policy shifts, is his first to a major European country since he came to power in May last year.