四位美國總統將出席曼德拉悼念儀式

World leaders are headed to South Africa for Tuesday's memorial service for Nelson Mandela, the anti-apartheid leader who died last week at the age of 95.

U.S. President Barack Obama left Washington Monday morning, accompanied by first lady Michelle Obama, and former President George W. Bush and his wife Laura. Former presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter are also traveling separately to Johannesburg where the service will be held in the Soccer City stadium, the site of the 2010 World Cup.

George H.W. Bush is the only living former U.S. president who will not attend the event. His spokesman said the 89-year-old Mr. Bush is no longer able to travel long distances.

South African Foreign Minister Maite Knoana-Mashabane says there has been "unprecedented interest" from world leaders who want to attend the event, which will be held under heavy security.

British Prime Minister David Cameron, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Cuban President Raul Castro and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon are among others also expected to attend the service for Mr. Mandela, who emerged from 27 years in prison to become South Africa's first black president.世界各國領導人前往南非參加星期二舉行的悼念曼德拉的儀式。這位反種族隔離制度的領袖人物上星期去世，享年95歲。

美國總統奧巴馬和第一夫人米歇爾·奧巴馬星期一早晨離開了華盛頓，和他們同行的有前總統小布什和夫人勞拉·布什。前總統克林頓和卡特另行前往約翰內斯堡，參加在足球城體育場舉行的悼念儀式。這裏曾舉辦過2010年世界盃足球賽。

在美國所有健在的前總統中，只有老布什缺席。他的發言人說，89歲高齡的老布什已不便長途旅行了。

南非外交部長馬沙巴內說，世界各國領導人表達了“前所未有的興趣”，希望參加曼德拉的追思會。這次活動將在嚴格的保安措施下舉行。

英國首相卡梅倫、伊朗總統魯哈尼、古巴總統勞爾·卡斯特羅和聯合國祕書長潘基文等領導人預計都將參加曼德拉的追思會。曼德拉在度過27年鐵窗生涯之後，成爲南非第一位黑人總統。