Obama to travel to S Africa to attend Mandela memorial events

US President Barack Obama will travel to South Africa next week to pay respects to the memory of Nelson Mandela and to participate in memorial events, his spokesperson said today.

First Lady Michelle Obama would accompany the President.

"President Obama and the First Lady will go to South Africa next week to pay their respects to the memory of Nelson Mandela and to participate in memorial events," White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said.

"We'll have further updates on timing and logistics as they become available," Carney said in a statement.