Obama telephones Mandela, congratulates him on the 20th anniversary of his release from prison

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Obama telephones congratulations to Mandela

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has telephoned Nelson Mandela to congratulate the former South African president on the 20th anniversary of his triumphant release from prison.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Obama made the call Friday.

Gibbs said Obama expressed the American people’s “great admiration” for Mandela.

Mandela was freed in 1990 after spending 27 years in prison for his work as an anti-apartheid leader. He later became South Africa’s first black president. South Africa celebrated the anniversary on Thursday.