Mandela Turns 89 and Launches 'a Robust Force for Good'

Nelson Mandela marked his 89th birthday today with the launch of a group of world-renowned leaders who plan to use several Nobel peace prizes and "almost 1,000 years of collective experience" to tackle global crises that governments are unable or unwilling to confront.

"Using their collective experience, their moral courage and their ability to rise above nation, race and creed, they can make our planet a more peaceful and equitable place to live," said the former South African president.

Mr Mandela, looking frail and walking with a stick, said the group, to be known as the Elders, was created at the initiative of Richard Branson and Peter Gabriel, who organized the funding.

Its members include the former US president Jimmy Carter, the former UN secretary general Kofi Annan, and the former archbishop of Cape Town Desmond Tutu. The former Irish president Mary Robinson and philanthropist Muhammad Yunus are also included with others expected to be invited to join.

Mr Mandela said the group could become a "robust force for good" in dealing with challenges ranging from climate change and global pandemics such as Aids and malaria to "that entirely human-created affliction, violent conflict".

He said the Elders could prove effective in "working objectively and without any personal or vested interest" in dealing with seemingly intractable problems where others fail because of "political, economic and geographic constraints".

"This group can speak freely and boldly, working both publicly and behind the scenes on whatever actions need to be taken," he said.

The launch was emotionally charged by Mr Mandela's birthday, which prompted a rousing chorus of Happy Birthday, and another for Mr Branson, who shares the same birthday.

Mr Tutu later broke down in tears after Mr Gabriel gave an impromptu rendition of his song Biko, about the Black Consciousness leader murdered 30 years ago by the apartheid-era police.

Mr Mandela said the name of the group was drawn from the idea of the world as a global village in need of elders in the way that village elders have traditionally addressed their communities' problems.

Members of the Elders declined to be drawn on what their first initiatives might be but a source close to the group said that Zimbabwe is an early target for behind-the-scenes diplomacy and that there had already been contacts on the issue.

Asked specifically about Zimbabwe, Mr Tutu said: "One of the ways we hope to be able to operate is not announcing in public. There are many things that can be accomplished because people are able to use their persuasive abilities in confidence."

Mr Branson approached Mr Mandela with the idea for such a group in 2001. The former South African president is to be only a "presence" rather than a more active member of the group, although Mr Tutu said that if all Mr Mandela ever does is pick up a telephone "that will be more than enough".

Mr Carter said the group had the advantage of "complete freedom to escape from the restraints of political niceties".

"The Elders neither want nor will we have any kind of authority except that which comes through common moral values," he said.

Mr Mandela's birthday was also to be marked in Cape Town with a football match between a team of some of the world's legendary players, including Pele.