Mandiba's body arrives for viewing in South Africa (740 hits)
By CHRISTOPHER TORCHIA and JON GAMBRELL
PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) -- People lined the streets to watch the procession drive slowly to the Union Buildings. They sang old songs from the struggle against the apartheid regime and called out their farewells to Mandela, who died Dec. 5 at the age of 95. Traffic was backed up for several kilometers (miles) on a highway leading into Pretoria.
A flag-draped casket containing the body of Nelson Mandela arrived with a military honor guard Wednesday for display in an amphitheater where he was sworn in 19 years ago. Prior to the arrival of Mandiba's casket, Army helicopters had been circling overhead but once the arrival of the coffin, there was a sudden quiet that fell over the crowd. The officers set down the coffin and removed the flag.
After casket bearers left, four junior officers in white uniform from the South African navy remained to keep watch over the body, rotating position every hour. Mandela's grandson Mandla and Defense Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula led mourners into the viewing area.
Mandela's body will lie in state for three days. It has a glass cover allowing mourners to look in on Mandela one last time. "I just hope I won't cry," said Paul Letageng, 47, an employee there. "It's amazing to think that 19 years ago he was inaugurated there, and now he's lying there. If he was not here we would not have had peace in South Africa."
Officials have banned cameras from the viewing area and people are being asked to turn off their mobile phones. Mandela's body will lie in state for three days. It has a glass cover allowing mourners to look in on Mandela one last time. Officials have banned cameras from the viewing area and people are being asked to turn off their mobile phones.
Mandela family members, his wife Graca Machel, his former wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and Zuma all attended the viewing Wednesday. Other world leaders were expected to pass by his coffin. Each day, Mandela's coffin will be driven back to 1 Military Hospital to be held overnight. Authorities have asked the public to line the street as an honor guard for each trip. Mandela's body will be flown Saturday to Qunu, his home in the Eastern Cape Province. He will be buried Sunday.
On Tuesday, world leaders including U.S. President Barack Obama eulogized Mandela. In his speech, Obama called Mandela "the last great liberator of the 20th century." "We will never see the likes of Nelson Mandela again," Obama said. "But let me say to the young people of Africa, and young people around the world - you can make his life's work your own."
