Nelson Mandela was to attend the unveiling of a statue erected in his honour in London's Parliament Square today.

The nine-foot bronze likeness of the former South-African president will join the likes of the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and US President Abraham Lincoln in front of the Houses of Parliament.

Today's ceremony, also attended by Prime Minister Gordon Brown and London mayor Ken Livingstone, marks the end of a five-year dispute over where the statue should stand.

Mr Livingstone originally wanted it put on the North Terrace of Trafalgar Square, but Westminster Council said that location would obstruct public events.

Instead, the council suggested the sculpture, by the acclaimed sculptor Ian Walters, should stand in front of South Africa House alongside Trafalgar Square.

A compromise decision was then taken to move the statue to Parliament Square, also home to a likeness of the South African statesman and war hero Field Marshall Jan Smuts.

Mr Livingstone has said placing the statue in Parliament Square, where it will face Big Ben, reflected Mr Mandela's significance as a world statesman.

Today's event was to feature performances by a Gospel choir and 40 dancers in carnival costume.

Yesterday Mr Mandela visited the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street. Welcoming the Nobel Peace Prize winner, Mr Brown called him the "greatest and most courageous leader of our generation".

Mr Mandela said he was "proud" to be inside No 10 and joked over British colonialism: "My wife and I are happy to be here because, as you know, this was one of our rulers, but we overthrew them."

A spokesman for Mr Mandela said he was "honoured" by the initiative taken by the British public paying tribute to him with the statue.

However, Mr Mandela will be skipping a dinner being held in his honour by the mayor at the Dorchester Hotel in west London tonight.

His spokesman the 89-year-old Mandela had a full program in London and did not have the strength to attend in person, but that his grandson would deliver a message on his behalf.

The supermodel Naomi Campbell, the broadcaster Sir Trevor MacDonald and the Booker Prize winning author Ben Okri were expected to attend the function, the mayor's office said.