<p>Nelson Mandela, South Africa's first elected black president and a global anti-apartheid icon died early today, at his home in the suburb of Houghton here, following a lengthy illness.<br /><br /></p>.<p>He was 95.<br /><br />The elder statesman was receiving medical care from a leading team since September after spending three months in a Pretoria hospital for a recurrent lung ailment.<br /><br />"Fellow South Africans, our beloved Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, the founding president of our democratic nation, has departed," Zuma said in a nationally televised address.<br /><br />He passed away peacefully at 20:50 (local time), December 5, Zuma said.<br /><br />"He is now resting. He is now at peace...Our nation has lost its greatest son. Our people have lost a father," he said.<br /><br />Zuma announced that there would be a state funeral for the departed world leader.<br />Details of the funeral have not been announced yet, but all flags will fly at half-mast until the funeral.<br /><br />Zuma said Mandela's tireless struggle for freedom earned him the respect of the world, "His humility, his compassion, and his humanity earned him their love."<br /><br />"Our thoughts are with the South African people who today mourn the loss of the one person who, more than any other, came to embody their sense of a common nationhood.<br />Our thoughts are with the millions of people across the world who embraced Madiba as their own, and who saw his cause as their cause, Zuma said.<br /><br />"Let us reaffirm his vision of a society in which none is exploited, oppressed or dispossessed by another. Let us commit ourselves to strive together – sparing neither strength nor courage – to build a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa," he said.<br /><br />Hundreds of South Africans all over the country huddled in groups from the early hours of this morning to mourn the death of founding father of the democratic nation.<br /><br />The government has also set up a special tribute website at "www.mandela.gov.za.<br />Mandela spent 27 years in prison, most of them on Robben Island, after being convicted in the Rivonia trial with several others 50 years ago.<br /><br />He stepped down after serving one term as President following the first democratic elections in 1994.<br /><br />Mandela had been in and out of hospital for the past two years with a range of medical problems.<br /><br />Hundreds of South Africans all over the country huddled in groups from the early hours of this morning to mourn the death of the founding father of the democratic nation.<br /><br />Tributes and condolences from many world leaders have been pouring in from all corners of the world after the tragic news.</p>
<p>Nelson Mandela, South Africa's first elected black president and a global anti-apartheid icon died early today, at his home in the suburb of Houghton here, following a lengthy illness.<br /><br /></p>.<p>He was 95.<br /><br />The elder statesman was receiving medical care from a leading team since September after spending three months in a Pretoria hospital for a recurrent lung ailment.<br /><br />"Fellow South Africans, our beloved Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, the founding president of our democratic nation, has departed," Zuma said in a nationally televised address.<br /><br />He passed away peacefully at 20:50 (local time), December 5, Zuma said.<br /><br />"He is now resting. He is now at peace...Our nation has lost its greatest son. Our people have lost a father," he said.<br /><br />Zuma announced that there would be a state funeral for the departed world leader.<br />Details of the funeral have not been announced yet, but all flags will fly at half-mast until the funeral.<br /><br />Zuma said Mandela's tireless struggle for freedom earned him the respect of the world, "His humility, his compassion, and his humanity earned him their love."<br /><br />"Our thoughts are with the South African people who today mourn the loss of the one person who, more than any other, came to embody their sense of a common nationhood.<br />Our thoughts are with the millions of people across the world who embraced Madiba as their own, and who saw his cause as their cause, Zuma said.<br /><br />"Let us reaffirm his vision of a society in which none is exploited, oppressed or dispossessed by another. Let us commit ourselves to strive together – sparing neither strength nor courage – to build a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa," he said.<br /><br />Hundreds of South Africans all over the country huddled in groups from the early hours of this morning to mourn the death of founding father of the democratic nation.<br /><br />The government has also set up a special tribute website at "www.mandela.gov.za.<br />Mandela spent 27 years in prison, most of them on Robben Island, after being convicted in the Rivonia trial with several others 50 years ago.<br /><br />He stepped down after serving one term as President following the first democratic elections in 1994.<br /><br />Mandela had been in and out of hospital for the past two years with a range of medical problems.<br /><br />Hundreds of South Africans all over the country huddled in groups from the early hours of this morning to mourn the death of the founding father of the democratic nation.<br /><br />Tributes and condolences from many world leaders have been pouring in from all corners of the world after the tragic news.</p>