Oxford students call for removal of 'racist' statue

A group of students at Oxford University is calling for a statue to be taken down because it's claimed to symbolise racism and colonialism.

The statue of Cecil Rhodes - dubbed by some as the founding father of Apartheid - is more than 100 years old and sits in a Grade II listed building at Oriel College.

The group wants the university to follow the example of the University of Cape Town which pulled down its statue of the white supremacist in April.

The protest is controversial because Rhodes was a major benefactor at Oxford University. His estate currently endows one of the worlds most prestigious awards, the Rhodes Scholarship.

The postgraduate award brings students - which have included former US president Bill Clinton - from around the world to study at Oxford University.