Mandela's widow makes first public appearance

SOWETO, South Africa - Nelson Mandela's widow Graca Machel on Tuesday made her first public appearance since his death as she arrived helped along by friends at the Soweto stadium for his memorial.

Wearing a black coat and dress, the Mozambican human rights campaigner linked arms as she made her way slowly into the bowels of the building.

Machel barely left her husband's bedside in the final six months of his life.

She maintained a near round-the-clock bedside vigil during the 84 days Mandela spent in a Pretoria hospital and the subsequent three months he spent at home before he died on December 5.

One of her rare public appearances came a month ago, when she was spotted at the premiere of the movie "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom" tracing her husband's journey from prisoner to president.