The former South African President, Nelson Mandela, says he's willing to contact world leaders in an effort to help the Middle East peace process.

Mr. Mandela was speaking after talks with the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, who's been visiting South Africa.

Earlier, Mr Arafat received backing from the current South African President, Thabo Mbeki, for his plan to declare a Palestinian state next month. In Egypt, the foreign minister, Amr Moussa, said Egypt would not put pressure on the Palestinians to make concessions over Jerusalem.

He was speaking after talks in Cairo between President Mubarak and the Israeli prime minister, Ehud Barak.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service