Mandela greatest leader, says Brown

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The pair were meeting for private talks ahead of the unveiling on Wednesday of a statue of Mr Mandela in London.

Welcoming Mr Mandela to No 10, the Prime Minister said: "I'm proud to welcome to Downing Street the most inspiring, the greatest and most courageous leader of our generation.

"It's such a privilege to have Nelson Mandela and his wife, Graca Machel, here and I'm looking forward to our discussions."

He told Mr Mandela: "I'm looking forward also to the statue being inaugurated in your honour in London."

The pair knew each other for a long time before Mr Brown became Prime Minister in June and the talks were "an opportunity for them to catch up", a Downing Street aide said.

Mr Mandela said he was "proud" to be inside No 10 and joked: "My wife and I are happy to be here because, as you know, this was one of our rulers, but we overthrew them."

He added: "We are on an equal basis now."

On Wednesday, the Prime Minister will join Mr Mandela and London mayor Ken Livingstone for the ceremonial unveiling of a 9ft bronze statue of the Nobel Peace Prize winner opposite the Houses of Parliament in Westminster.