BBC News:南非民眾在曼德拉追悼會(huì)上向現(xiàn)任總統(tǒng)發(fā)出噓聲

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BBC News with David Austin

President Obama has hailed Nelson Mandela as one of the giants of history in a powerful address at the former South African president's memorial service. Comparing Mandela to Mahatma Gandhi, Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King, Mr. Obama called him the last great liberator of the 20th century. He urged the crowd of world leaders, celebrities and tens of thousands of South Africans to embrace his message of peace. But Mr. Obama had a tough message too: questioning whether today's leaders were living up to Nelson Mandela's integrity and commitment to justice and peace.

“There are too many leaders who claim solidarity with Madiba's struggle for freedom but do not tolerate dissent from their own people. And there are too many of us, too many of us on the sidelines, comfortable in complacency or cynicism.”

The audience gave Mr. Obama a standing ovation but they booed for keynote speaker, President Jacob Zuma of South Africa, not just once but on three occasions. Archbishop Desmond Tutu closed the ceremony which lasted just over four hours.

“We promise God that we are going to follow the example of Nelson Mandela.”

The French President Francois Hollande says his country's military intervention in the Central African Republic was necessary to avoid carnage. Speaking during a visit to France's former colony, Mr. Hollande said committing French troops had been dangerous but this was not a time for hesitation. Hundreds of people have died in sectarian fighting and clashes continue despite the French deployment.

Banks operating in the United States had to face tight restrictions on speculating for their own profit. Five regulatory bodies have formally adopted what's called the Volcker rule, named after the former chairman of US Central Bank Paul Volcker. From 2015, a year later than originally planned, US banks will be largely barred from trading on financial markets with their own money.

Senators in Uruguay are debating a bill that makes it legal to sell, grow and consume marijuana. The legislation has been under discussion for more than four months and if passed, it will make Uruguay the first country to legalize the trade in marijuana. Registered Uruguayans over the age 18 will be allowed to buy up to 40 grams of the drug a month. Eric Camara reports.

While most observers think the bill will be passed tonight, the session is expected to be lengthy with senator spelling out their arguments in favour and against the controversial legislation. President Pepe Mujica is the first to admit that Uruguay could soon embark on a unique journey, no other country has yet attempted such a broadly legalization of marijuana although similar legislation

that has been enacted in the US states of Colorado and Washington.

Eric Camara.

World News from the BBC

The national assembly in Nicaragua has partially approved a constitutional reform which abolishes the two-term limit on presidential terms allowing President Daniel Ortega to stand for reelection. The plan will have to be ratified by the assembly next year.

The EU Foreign Policy chief says she’s held talks with the Ukrainian president over the continuing standoff between the police and anti-government protesters in the capital Kiev. Catherine Ashton later visited the demonstrators on Independent Square. She's also meeting opposition leaders.

The American Secretary of State John Kerry had urged the US Congress not to impose new sanctions on Iran which he said would jeopardize a deal on Tehran's nuclear program. Mr. Kerry said the US had promised no new sanctions as part of last month's interim agreement to curb Iran's nuclear activities. Johnny Dymond reports from Washington.

John Kerry's been given a pretty hard time by some pretty skeptical representatives. He's been accused of groveling to the Iranian government of letting down allies and of allowing Iran relief from sanctions without getting much in return. But he has pushed back against every suggestion of weakness. Acknowledging Israel's strong opposition to the deal, he pointed to support from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Without a deal, he said, Iran would be closer to nuclear breakout, further sanctions from Congress, he said, would be gratuitous.

The Supreme Court in Bangladesh has deferred the execution of an Islamist leader convicted of crimes against humanity during the country's 1971 war of independence from Pakistan. The Lawyers of Abdul Quader Molla say the hanging has been halted until Wednesday following a last minute appeal.

The American motor manufacturer General Motors has named Mary Barra as its new chief executive officer. The first time, that a woman has been promoted to lead one of the big US carmakers. Ms. Barra is currently a vice president of GM.

BBC News