South Africa's first black president and anti-apartheid icon
Nelson Mandela has died, South Africa's president says.
Mr Mandela, 95, led South Africa's transition from
white-minority rule in the 1990s, after 27 years in prison. He had been
receiving intense home-based medical care for a lung infection after three
months in hospital.
In a statement on South African national TV, Jacob Zuma said Mr
Mandela had "departed" and was at peace.
"Our nation has lost its greatest son," Mr Zuma said.
He said Mr Mandela would receive a full state funeral, and flags
would be flown at half-mast.
Mr Mandela's body will be moved to a mortuary in Pretoria, and
the funeral is likely to take place next Saturday.
A crowd has gathered outside the house where Mr Mandela died.
Some are flying South African flags and wearing the shirts of the governing
African National Congress, which Mr Mandela once led.
The Nobel Peace Prize laureate was one of the world's most
revered statesmen after preaching reconciliation despite being imprisoned for
27 years.
He had rarely been seen in public since officially retiring in
2004. He made his last public appearance in 2010, at the football World Cup in
South Africa.
His fellow campaigner against apartheid, Archbishop Desmond Tutu
said he was not only an amazing gift to humankind, he made South Africans and
Africans feel good about being who we are. He made us walk tall. God be
praised."
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