Hero's welcome for Ronaldo on visit to poverty-stricken West Bank

RAMALLAH, West Bank, Tuesday (AFP) Brazilian and Real Madrid superstar Ronaldo was mobbed by dozens of young Palestinian football fans Monday as he paid a morale-boosting visit to the poverty-stricken West Bank.

The World Cup winning forward, visiting anti-poverty projects in his capacity as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations, was handed a traditional Palestinian keffiyeh headscarf by one wheelchair-bound fan as he watched youngsters stage a kickabout at a playground in the town of Ramallah.

"In my name and in the name of the Real Madrid players, I thank you for this reception and I promise you to talk about the Palestinian people when I go back to Brazil," he told reporters.

Prime minister Ahmed Qorei, who was on hand to greet Ronaldo, thanked him for boosting morale of the Palestinian people. "This is an important visit by Ronaldo, a man of peace.

This visit is proof of his support for peace and for the Palestinian people," he added. Adult football fans had also travelled to the central West Bank town in order to catch a glimpse of their hero.

Wrapped in a Brazilian flag, 25-year-old Ziyad Estiteyeh said he had travelled down from his home in the northern city of Nablus.

"I admire him even more because he has come to visit us. For me, he is the best player in the world," he added.

After his visit to Ramallah, Ronaldo was due to head towards Tel Aviv, as a guest of the Nobel prize-winning Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres, to watch a tournament involving Israeli and Palestinian youngsters.