Former president Nelson Mandela spent Thursday in Norway's capital, Oslo, apparently out in the cold in terms of the biggest crisis facing his party since the African National Congress came to power.

Mandela, who earlier this week was briefed by both ANC Secretary-General Kgalema Motlanthe and Deputy President Jacob Zuma, would only say: "I will not get involved in this matter."

Mandela, whose relationship with President Thabo Mbeki is icy at best, has in the past turned to Zuma to mediate on his behalf with Mbeki.

'He gave his advice and that's the end of it' Relations soured between Mbeki and Mandela, especially over the government's approach to the HIV/Aids pandemic.

Mandela's attempts to intervene, behind closed doors, resulted in the elder statesman being heckled by Mbeki's supporters at an ANC national executive committee meeting in March 2002.

The antipathy between the president and his predecessor would rule out any mediation role for Mandela over the Zuma issue, according to Mandela's supporters.

Mandela refused to comment on a Business Day editorial which lambasted him for "failing to press Zuma to do the honourable thing and resign".

His spokesperson, Zelda la Grange, would only say that Mandela had held meetings with Motlanthe and Zuma.

Mandela is in Norway to host his 46664 concert "He gave his advice and that's the end of it. He will not go into detail," she said.

Mandela is in Norway to host his 46664 anti-Aids concert.

Reuters reported on Thursday that he was expected to urge the group of eight industrialised countries, the leaders of which meet in Scotland next month and who will be addressed by Mbeki, to do more to fight Aids.

With acknowledgements to Angela Quintal and The Mercury.