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 JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AP) - Nelson Mandela celebrated his 89th birthday Wednesday by joining with other Nobel peace laureates, politicians and development experts to form a "council of elders" dedicated to fostering peace and resolving global crises.
The event kicked off with about 250 people, including former President Jimmy Carter, singing "Happy Birthday" as a beaming Mandela took the stage, accompanied by an aide and leaning heavily on his cane.
"How God must love South Africa to have given us such a priceless gift!" former Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the chairman of the elders group, told Mandela. "You bowled us all over by your graciousness, magnanimity and generosity of spirit."
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