The spokesman for retired Archbishop Desmond Tutu says the Nobel prize-winning cleric has changed his plans and will attend the funeral of anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela.

Roger Friedman said late Saturday that Tutu will take a flight early Sunday morning in order to attend Mandela's funeral service in Qunu. He did not say what brought about the change in Tutu's plans.

Earlier Saturday Tutu had said he would not attend because he had not been invited and did not want to "gatecrash" Mandela's burial services. The South African government said that Tutu had been invited.