Spice Girls Want Mandela Gig

The Spice Girls would love to perform for former South African President Nelson Mandela, but said on Monday they had not yet been formally asked to be part of his planned 90th birthday celebrations in June.

Britain's Daily Mirror reported last week that Mandela was eager for the Spice Girls, who reunited late last year for a greatest hits album and world tour, to perform at a planned concert in London's Hyde Park.

"We're great friends of Mr. Mandela and we would love to perform for him again," said Melanie Chisholm, a.k.a. Sporty Spice.

The Spice Girls met Mandela in 1997 when the then-president invited them to his Pretoria residence for a chat and photos. They were in South Africa to perform in a Johannesburg charity concert. Although the group was asked to perform at Mandela's 89th birthday celebrations last year, the girls declined, as Emma Bunton was heavily pregnant with her first child.

Despite ending their tour early amidst rumors of infighting, the girls have left the door open for future concerts.