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Huge crowds file past Nelson Mandela's body in Pretoria | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Thousands of South Africans are queuing to view the body of their former President, Nelson Mandela. | |
Mr Mandela's body is lying in state at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, where he was sworn in as South African leader nearly 20 years ago. | |
Earlier, members of his family and senior officials including former President Thabo Mbeki filed past the coffin. | |
Mr Mandela died last Thursday at the age of 95 and will be buried on Sunday. | Mr Mandela died last Thursday at the age of 95 and will be buried on Sunday. |
His funeral will take place in his home village of Qunu in Eastern Cape province on Sunday. | His funeral will take place in his home village of Qunu in Eastern Cape province on Sunday. |
Tens of thousands of South Africans joined scores of world leaders for a national memorial service on Tuesday as part of a series of commemorations. | Tens of thousands of South Africans joined scores of world leaders for a national memorial service on Tuesday as part of a series of commemorations. |
One of the dignitaries at the event, South African peace advocate Desmond Tutu, had his home broken into while he was away, an aide has told reporters. | |
Quick convoy | Quick convoy |
With crowds streaming into the grounds of the Union Buildings, the BBC's Peter Biles says the scene is reminiscent of the country's first democratic elections in 1994. | |
It is a lengthy process, with security checks, but so far our correspondent says enormous patience has been displayed by those who are queuing. | |
Some are reportedly in tears, while others are singing songs. | |
The BBC's Pumza Fihlani said: "I saw him, I saw my Mandela, the man who made it possible for a rural girl like me to be where I am. I saw him and all I could do was cry." | |
Earlier, crowds watched as the coffin was taken in procession from a hospital mortuary to the Union Buildings. | |
The procession left the city's 1 Military Hospital shortly after 07:00 (05:00 GMT) on Wednesday. | The procession left the city's 1 Military Hospital shortly after 07:00 (05:00 GMT) on Wednesday. |
The coffin could be seen inside a black hearse, draped in a South African flag, in a convoy with military outriders and ambulances. | The coffin could be seen inside a black hearse, draped in a South African flag, in a convoy with military outriders and ambulances. |
It travelled along Kgosi Mampuru Street and Madiba Street on the way to the Union Buildings. | It travelled along Kgosi Mampuru Street and Madiba Street on the way to the Union Buildings. |
The convoy sped quickly through the streets, with some people running alongside the military guard, the BBC's Joseph Winter in Pretoria says. | The convoy sped quickly through the streets, with some people running alongside the military guard, the BBC's Joseph Winter in Pretoria says. |
Mr Mandela's remains will make the journey from the military hospital every morning from Wednesday until Friday, the government announced. | Mr Mandela's remains will make the journey from the military hospital every morning from Wednesday until Friday, the government announced. |
"The public are encouraged to form a guard of honour by lining the streets," it said. | "The public are encouraged to form a guard of honour by lining the streets," it said. |
Small crowds cheered and sang as the convoy sped past. | Small crowds cheered and sang as the convoy sped past. |
"Seeing him passing by was the greatest thing I have ever seen in my life. I just wanted to see him passing for the last time," said one mourner, Grace. | "Seeing him passing by was the greatest thing I have ever seen in my life. I just wanted to see him passing for the last time," said one mourner, Grace. |
Mr Mandela's coffin was placed under a specially made wooden structure in the grounds of the Union Buildings. | Mr Mandela's coffin was placed under a specially made wooden structure in the grounds of the Union Buildings. |
Among those who filed past the body were Mr Mandela's second wife, Winnie, and current President Jacob Zuma. | Among those who filed past the body were Mr Mandela's second wife, Winnie, and current President Jacob Zuma. |
The morning viewing was reserved for family and officials, with the public allowed in from midday. | The morning viewing was reserved for family and officials, with the public allowed in from midday. |
The Union Buildings are the official seat of the South African leader, where Mr Mandela was sworn in as the first black president in 1994. | The Union Buildings are the official seat of the South African leader, where Mr Mandela was sworn in as the first black president in 1994. |
At the memorial service on Tuesday, Mr Zuma announced that the Union Buildings would be renamed the Mandela Amphitheatre. | At the memorial service on Tuesday, Mr Zuma announced that the Union Buildings would be renamed the Mandela Amphitheatre. |
The crowd listened to Mr Zuma's speech, but sections of the stadium booed when his name was mentioned at other times. | The crowd listened to Mr Zuma's speech, but sections of the stadium booed when his name was mentioned at other times. |
Mr Mandela's grandson, Ndaba, told the BBC that his grandfather would not have been bothered by the booing. | Mr Mandela's grandson, Ndaba, told the BBC that his grandfather would not have been bothered by the booing. |
"He is a man of the people and one who respects and understands that the people must express their opinions no matter whether they are with you or against you," he said. | "He is a man of the people and one who respects and understands that the people must express their opinions no matter whether they are with you or against you," he said. |
Later, presidential spokesman Lindiwe Zulu said the booing was "humiliating" and those responsible would be "dealt with". | Later, presidential spokesman Lindiwe Zulu said the booing was "humiliating" and those responsible would be "dealt with". |
'Great liberator' | 'Great liberator' |
US President Barack Obama led the tributes to Mr Mandela at the memorial service in rainy weather at the FNB stadium in Soweto. | US President Barack Obama led the tributes to Mr Mandela at the memorial service in rainy weather at the FNB stadium in Soweto. |
He said the former South African president was a "giant of history", describing him as the last great liberator of the 20th Century. | He said the former South African president was a "giant of history", describing him as the last great liberator of the 20th Century. |
"We will never see the likes of Nelson Mandela again. While I will always fall short of Madiba [Mr Mandela's clan name], he makes me want to be a better man." | "We will never see the likes of Nelson Mandela again. While I will always fall short of Madiba [Mr Mandela's clan name], he makes me want to be a better man." |
On Saturday, the military will fly his body the Eastern Cape from Air Force Base Waterkloof in Pretoria. | On Saturday, the military will fly his body the Eastern Cape from Air Force Base Waterkloof in Pretoria. |
A military guard of honour will welcome the arrival, and the coffin will then be placed on a gun carriage and transported to a hearse. | A military guard of honour will welcome the arrival, and the coffin will then be placed on a gun carriage and transported to a hearse. |
Mr Mandela's body will then be taken to his home village of Qunu, where the Thembu community will conduct a traditional ceremony. | Mr Mandela's body will then be taken to his home village of Qunu, where the Thembu community will conduct a traditional ceremony. |
A national day of reconciliation will take place on 16 December when a statue of Mr Mandela will be unveiled at the Union Buildings. | A national day of reconciliation will take place on 16 December when a statue of Mr Mandela will be unveiled at the Union Buildings. |
Big screens have been set up across South Africa to show the planned national events. | Big screens have been set up across South Africa to show the planned national events. |