Nelson Mandela memorial service takes place in South Africa
- Published
Huge crowds honour Mandela
World leaders and tens of thousands of South Africans gathered in a huge football stadium today for a memorial service for Nelson Mandela.
US President Barack Obama said Mr Mandela was a "giant of history", adding: "The world thanks you for sharing Nelson Mandela with us".
Many waited for hours in the rain to get into the huge Johannesburg stadium.
It was the venue for the closing ceremony of the 2010 World Cup - Mr Mandela's last public appearance.
Ricky reports from the memorial service
'Unique gift'
To an ecstatic cheering crowd, Mr Obama said: "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."
The Danish PM found time to snap a selfie with President Obama!
UN boss Ban Ki-moon also paid tribute, saying: "Mandela hated hatred. Not the people. He showed wholesome power of forgiveness. A unique gift."
Over 100 major world leaders were at the service, including:
US President Barack Obama, his wife Michelle, and three former presidents
British Prime Minister David Cameron, Deputy PM Nick Clegg, Labour leader Ed Miliband, and several former British PMs
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and his predecessor Kofi Annan
But South African President Jacob Zuma was booed by a noisy crowd each time his face appeared on the big screens. He has recently been accused of spending too much government money on improvements to his official house.
The service - including prayers of different religions and songs of remembrance - lasted four hours and was shown on big screens at three "overflow" stadiums.
Nelson Mandela, who was South Africa's first black president, died last Thursday aged 95.
Yesterday members of the UK government stopped work to pay tribute to Nelson Mandela at the Houses of Parliament.
They said honouring the former South African president was their "principal occupation" of the day.
Tributes have been left beneath Mandela's statue in London
Another event will take place later in the week at Westminster Hall, where Mr Mandela spoke to parliament in 1996.
Prince Charles has confirmed that he will travel to South Africa to represent the Queen at the state funeral for Nelson Mandela on Sunday 15 December.
Prayer and reflection
On Sunday, people in South Africa held a day of "prayer and reflection".
South African President, Jacob Zuma, encouraged people to go to places of worship on Sunday to remember their former President.
Since Mandela's death was announced on Thursday, crowds of people have been gathering outside the houses where he lived, lighting candles, praying, singing and dancing in celebration of his life.
Click here to read our guide about why Nelson Mandela was important.
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