Nelson Mandela memorial: Obama lauds 'giant of history'

Tens of thousands of South Africans have joined
dozens of world leaders for the national memorial
service for former President Nelson Mandela.
The service was held in front of a vociferous crowd in
the FNB stadium in Johannesburg.
US President Barack Obama said Mr Mandela was a
"giant of history", describing him as the last great
liberator of the 20th Century.
The former South African president died last
Thursday, aged 95.
The country is observing a series of commemorations
leading up to the funeral on Sunday.
'A mighty life'
The memorial service, which began at about 12:00
(10:00 GMT), lasted about four hours.
It was one of the biggest gatherings of international
dignitaries in recent years, with more than 100
current or former heads of state or government
attending.
There had been fears people would be turned away.
But with heavy rain, security and transport issues,
and the fact that Tuesday was not declared a national
holiday, areas of the 95,000-capacity stadium
remained empty.
Introducing the proceedings, the master of
ceremonies, Cyril Ramaphosa, said that Mr Mandela's
"long walk is over... and he can finally rest".
Current South African President Jacob Zuma made
the keynote address but was booed in some parts of
the ceremony.
He said Mr Mandela was "one of a kind... a fearless
freedom fighter who refused to allow the brutality of
the apartheid state to stand in way of the struggle for
the liberation of his people".
Mr Zuma announced he was renaming the Union
Buildings in Pretoria, where Mr Mandela will lie in
state, as the Mandela Amphitheatre.
Earlier Mr Obama delivered his address, carried on
the White House web site, to huge cheers. He said: "It
is hard to eulogise any man... how much harder to
do so for a giant of history, who moved a nation
towards justice."
He said Nelson Mandela had taught the world the
power of action and the power of ideas, and that it
had taken a man like Mr Mandela to free not only the
prisoner but also the jailer.
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."
On his way to the podium, President Obama shook
hands with Cuban President Raul Castro, an
unprecedented gesture between the leaders of two
nations that have been at loggerheads for more than
half a century.