Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was officially welcomed with pomp and splendour on a three-day state visit to South Africa on Friday morning at the Tuynhuys presidential office in Cape Town.
Abbas arrived at 9am, and after being greeted stood beside President Thabo Mbeki on a raised platform to observe a 21-gun salute.
He took the national salute and inspected the guard of honour before being guided inside by Mbeki along a red carpet lined with Cabinet ministers and their deputies, who he greeted with a handshake.
The two leaders then disappeared inside for bilateral political and economic talks, to be followed by a press conference later on Friday morning.
Abbas, who arrived in the country on Thursday, was scheduled to address the National Assembly at noon.
"President Abbas's state visit to South Africa comes within the context of South Africa's priority to promote the peaceful resolution of conflict and post-conflict reconstruction and development in the Middle East through continued dialogue with both the Israelis and Palestinians," the Foreign Affairs Department said earlier this week.
Mbeki in January congratulated the Hamas Islamic movement on its parliamentary election victory, and Abbas for being elected president.
The election results were met with caution by western leaders. The United States has reportedly refused to deal with a Hamas government unless the group abandons its stated wish for the destruction of Israel.
South Africa supports a two-state solution to the conflict.
Mbeki has said that those who promote democracy cannot afford to challenge the consequences of a democratic process, as in the Palestinian elections.
The Kadima party led by Ehud Olmert won elections in Israel this week.
The department said Mbeki would receive a briefing from Abbas on the situation in the Middle East and developments in the peace process.
There would be bilateral political and economic discussions, and briefings on developments in the Southern African Development Community, and other African countries.
Abbas was scheduled to pay former president Nelson Mandela a courtesy call, and hold discussions with the Jewish Board of Deputies, Arab ambassadors and the Muslim Judicial Council before leaving the country on Saturday. - Sapa