SOUTH AFRICA

Mourners stream into FNB Stadium for Mandela Memorial Service

Mourners from South Africa and around the globe have gathered in FNB Stadium to remember the life of Nelson Mandela, who passed away on Thursday, aged 95. Nearly 100 world leaders are in attendance.

Mandela Service to begin

Rain poured down on FNB Stadium on Tuesday morning, but failed to dampen the celebratory atmosphere of South Africans and foreign dignitaries gathered for Nelson Mandela's memorial service. Ahead of the service, mourners filled the stadium with anti-apartheid songs and shouts of "Viva Tata Madiba" - "Long live Papa Madiba," Mandela's clan name.

Spiritual leaders from different faiths opened the memorial service with prayers for the deceased leader. They called on the world to follow his example as a proponent of peace and as a reconciler.

Eulogies were scheduled to be given by several world leaders, including US President Barack Obama, Cuban President Raul Castro and United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. The keynote address was to be given by South African President Jacob Zuma.

Some 100 world leaders were on the guest list, recalling Mandela's gift for bringing enemies together across political and racial divides. However, any antagonism between nations in attendance are expected to be put on mute Tuesday in honor of Mandela.

German President Joachim Gauck, British Prime Minister David Cameron, French President Francois Hollande were just a few of the European leaders in attendance on Tuesday.

Following the service, Mandela's body is to lie in state in the capital city, Pretoria, for several days. On Friday, he is to be laid to rest in his ancestral village of Qunu in South Africa's Eastern Cape Province, located south of Johannesburg.

Nelson Rolilahla Mandela left an indelible mark on South Africa and the world. Following nearly three decades as a political prisoner on Robben Island, he became the racially divided country's first black president. He won the respect and support of people across the globe for his efforts in helping heal the wounds of apartheid in his homeland through a spirit of reconciliation. Mandela was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.

Tight security for the high-profile event

Security officials in South Africa worked to ensure the safety of civilians and high-profile guests on Tuesday. Although the FNB Stadium - the site of the 2010 World Cup opening game and Nelson Mandela's final public appearance - can hold over 90,000 people, only 80,000 people are to be allowed to enter for the memorial service.

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Three other stadiums in the vicinity of the FNB stadium, which is located in Soweto township near Johannesburg, are to accommodate the overflow of mourners and broadcast the event live.

Meanwhile, workers have constructed a stage surrounded by bulletproof glass to protect the world leaders. "Thousands" of police officers were reportedly deployed in the stadium to secure the area, while authorities outside of the arena would ensure that nearby roads remained cordoned off.

The last memorial on this scale was the 2005 funeral of Pope John Paul II, which drew dignitaries from more than 80 countries, as well as a crowd of 300,000 people who filled St. Peter's Square.

Please go to our website at www.dw.de to view live coverage of the event beginning at 0900 UTC.

kms/pfd (AP, AFP, Reuters)      dw de