Brussels and Liège mark Nelson Mandela's 100th birthday

Manneken Pis donned his Nelson Mandela costume on Wednesday to mark what would have been the South African leader's 100th birthday, while a mural was unveiled in Liège in his honour.

The bells at Saints Michael and Gudula Cathedral in central Brussels played the South African national anthem and the country's ambassador to Belgium, Baso Sangqu, attended a reception at Brussels City Hall for the occasion, hosted by mayor Philippe Close, who wore a South African rugby shirt.

Sangqu said: "Today we realise that Mandela does not belong only to the South Africans, but he is a global icon."

South Africa donated a Nelson Mandela outfit to Manneken Pis shortly after the statesman died in December 2013.

Meanwhile, city officials in Liège inauguated a Mandela mural on Wednesday at Place de l'Yser, produced by street artist Novadead. Another mural, representing Martin Luther King, was unveiled at the same time as part of a city-wide campaign against racism.

Top photo: Nils Quintelier/Belga. Bottom photo: Jessica Defgnee/Belga