Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo celebrated his 60th birthday on Tuesday by inviting 300 poor children over for breakfast in the presidential palace.

"In four short months, I will be no longer here and the breakfast is a symbol of my concern for the poorest," the head of state said, adding that it was his decision to spend birthday with the children, "who don't have mistrust in their hearts or minds."

Toledo told reporters that he hoped his successor, who will be elected in April, will focus on children, health care, education and work for the poorest in the nation.

Toledo joined a group of musicians to sing the traditional Happy Birthday song in Quechua. He shared a giant cake with the children and then delivered computers to four state schools whose students attended the meal.

Toledo was born in Pallasca city, Ancash department in 1946 to a poor family. As one of the nine children, he worked at an early age to help support the family, before winning a grant to study economics in the United States.

Source: Xinhua