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| Mandela memorial: Thousands attend in Johannesburg | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The national memorial service for former South African President Nelson Mandela has begun in Johannesburg. | |
| Tens of thousands of South Africans have joined dozens of world leaders in the FNB stadium. | |
| US President Barack Obama, Cuban President Raul Castro and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will address the service, as will four of Mr Mandela's grandchildren. | US President Barack Obama, Cuban President Raul Castro and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will address the service, as will four of Mr Mandela's grandchildren. |
| The former South African president died aged 95 last Thursday. | The former South African president died aged 95 last Thursday. |
| The country is observing a series of commemorations leading up to the funeral on Sunday. | The country is observing a series of commemorations leading up to the funeral on Sunday. |
| 'A mighty life' | 'A mighty life' |
| The memorial service is one of the biggest gatherings of international dignitaries in recent years. | The memorial service is one of the biggest gatherings of international dignitaries in recent years. |
| Many people stood in the rain waiting for several hours to get into the stadium, the BBC's Pumza Fihlani reports from the scene. | Many people stood in the rain waiting for several hours to get into the stadium, the BBC's Pumza Fihlani reports from the scene. |
| She says the crowds are in high spirits - singing and dancing, stomping their feet - and the stadium is beginning to have the feel of a political rally. | She says the crowds are in high spirits - singing and dancing, stomping their feet - and the stadium is beginning to have the feel of a political rally. |
| Rather than seeing the rain as a dampener, many in South Africa have welcomed it. | Rather than seeing the rain as a dampener, many in South Africa have welcomed it. |
| Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said: "It's a blessing from the ancestors welcoming a son of the soil." | Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said: "It's a blessing from the ancestors welcoming a son of the soil." |
| One of those attending, Shahida Rowe from Johannesburg, told the BBC: "The core of Mandela's life was humanity. That is why I am here today and the world is celebrating. | One of those attending, Shahida Rowe from Johannesburg, told the BBC: "The core of Mandela's life was humanity. That is why I am here today and the world is celebrating. |
| "Thanks to him, I was recognised as a human being." | "Thanks to him, I was recognised as a human being." |
| Mr Mandela's widow, Graca Machel, arrived at the stadium to huge cheers as she was shown on the big screen. | |
| There were cheers too of "Winnie! Winnie!" for ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, who hugged and kissed Graca Machel. | |
| South African President Jacob Zuma will make the keynote address, and other tributes will come from Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, Chinese Vice-President Li Yuanchao, President Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia and Indian President Pranab Mukherjee. | South African President Jacob Zuma will make the keynote address, and other tributes will come from Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, Chinese Vice-President Li Yuanchao, President Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia and Indian President Pranab Mukherjee. |
| Raul Castro's speech reflects the fact that under his brother, Fidel, Cuba was a staunch critic of apartheid, and Mr Mandela had expressed gratitude for that support. | Raul Castro's speech reflects the fact that under his brother, Fidel, Cuba was a staunch critic of apartheid, and Mr Mandela had expressed gratitude for that support. |
| There was a large cheer from the crowd as Raul Castro's name was read out. | |
| The BBC's Mike Wooldridge in Johannesburg says the line-up of world leaders is a sign of how South Africa has seen its partners and place in the world since Nelson Mandela became president. | The BBC's Mike Wooldridge in Johannesburg says the line-up of world leaders is a sign of how South Africa has seen its partners and place in the world since Nelson Mandela became president. |
| But, he adds, today is as personal as it is political... a recognition that there are lessons for the wider world in everything Nelson Mandela sought to achieve. | But, he adds, today is as personal as it is political... a recognition that there are lessons for the wider world in everything Nelson Mandela sought to achieve. |
| Four of Mr Mandela's grandchildren will also make speeches, along with Andrew Mlangeni, Mr Mandela's friend and fellow former Robben Island prisoner. | Four of Mr Mandela's grandchildren will also make speeches, along with Andrew Mlangeni, Mr Mandela's friend and fellow former Robben Island prisoner. |
| Ban Ki-moon, who will also deliver a tribute, visited the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory in Johannesburg on Monday. | Ban Ki-moon, who will also deliver a tribute, visited the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory in Johannesburg on Monday. |
| "The world mourns the loss of Nelson Mandela, one of the towering figures of our time and indeed of any time," he said. | "The world mourns the loss of Nelson Mandela, one of the towering figures of our time and indeed of any time," he said. |
| "We join together in sorrow for a mighty loss and in celebration of a mighty life." | "We join together in sorrow for a mighty loss and in celebration of a mighty life." |
| British Prime Minister David Cameron is attending Tuesday's memorial, along with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, Labour leader Ed Miliband and former British Prime Ministers Gordon Brown, Tony Blair and John Major. | British Prime Minister David Cameron is attending Tuesday's memorial, along with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, Labour leader Ed Miliband and former British Prime Ministers Gordon Brown, Tony Blair and John Major. |
| Mr Cameron told the BBC how he had been struck by Mr Mandela's "incredible grace and forgiveness - how he reconciled people after all those years in jail". | Mr Cameron told the BBC how he had been struck by Mr Mandela's "incredible grace and forgiveness - how he reconciled people after all those years in jail". |
| Three former US presidents, George W Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, are also attending, as are Francois Hollande of France, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe. | Three former US presidents, George W Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, are also attending, as are Francois Hollande of France, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe. |
| Other mourners on the list are Oprah Winfrey, Bono, Sir Richard Branson and Peter Gabriel. | |
| They will join the crowd at FNB stadium, also known as Soccer City, just outside Johannesburg, near Soweto. | They will join the crowd at FNB stadium, also known as Soccer City, just outside Johannesburg, near Soweto. |
| Mr Mandela made his final major public appearance there during the 2010 football World Cup. | Mr Mandela made his final major public appearance there during the 2010 football World Cup. |
| 'Beautiful send-off' | 'Beautiful send-off' |
| The memorial service, which was due to start at 11:00 (09:00 GMT), will last about four hours, according to the official programme. | The memorial service, which was due to start at 11:00 (09:00 GMT), will last about four hours, according to the official programme. |
| Because public seating is not ticketed, the South African authorities felt many people would have to be turned away and set up big screens at three "overflow" stadiums - Orlando, Dobsonville and Rand. | Because public seating is not ticketed, the South African authorities felt many people would have to be turned away and set up big screens at three "overflow" stadiums - Orlando, Dobsonville and Rand. |
| However, correspondents say that the heavy rain, security and transport issues and the fact that Tuesday was not declared a national holiday have kept the numbers down. | However, correspondents say that the heavy rain, security and transport issues and the fact that Tuesday was not declared a national holiday have kept the numbers down. |
| Mr Mandela's body will lie in state in Pretoria on the following three days and a state funeral takes place on Sunday in his home village of Qunu in Eastern Cape province. | Mr Mandela's body will lie in state in Pretoria on the following three days and a state funeral takes place on Sunday in his home village of Qunu in Eastern Cape province. |
| Two of Mr Mandela's granddaughters, Tukwini and Nandi, told the BBC the family had been working to give him "the beautiful send-off that he deserves". | Two of Mr Mandela's granddaughters, Tukwini and Nandi, told the BBC the family had been working to give him "the beautiful send-off that he deserves". |
| More than 100 current or former heads of state or government will attend the funeral or the national memorial, according to the South African government. | More than 100 current or former heads of state or government will attend the funeral or the national memorial, according to the South African government. |
| Among those not attending the memorial events will be Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who cited high travel and security costs. | Among those not attending the memorial events will be Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who cited high travel and security costs. |
| However there will be suspicion that he wishes to avoid the potential for anti-Israeli protests, the BBC's Middle East Correspondent Kevin Connolly reports. Israel had extensive links with the old apartheid regime and many South Africans identify strongly with the Palestinian cause, our correspondent adds. | However there will be suspicion that he wishes to avoid the potential for anti-Israeli protests, the BBC's Middle East Correspondent Kevin Connolly reports. Israel had extensive links with the old apartheid regime and many South Africans identify strongly with the Palestinian cause, our correspondent adds. |
| Israeli President Shimon Peres is not attending due to illness, so Knesset speaker Yuli Edelstein will represent the country. | Israeli President Shimon Peres is not attending due to illness, so Knesset speaker Yuli Edelstein will represent the country. |
| The Dalai Lama will also be among the notable absentees, after twice failing to get a visa to South Africa. | The Dalai Lama will also be among the notable absentees, after twice failing to get a visa to South Africa. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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