Mandela funeral brings foreign rivals together

The presidents of the United States and Cuba will share a rare joint stage tomorrow as world leaders shed historic rivalries to pay tribute at the funeral of South African freedom icon Nelson Mandela.

Barack Obama and Raul Castro will both offer eulogies for Mandela at a sweeping memorial service to be held at the Soweto stadium that hosted the 2010 World Cup final.

They are among more than 90 heads of state and government scheduled to attend an extended state funeral that will culminate in Mandela's burial on Sunday in the rural village of Qunu where he spent his early childhood.