Mandela Funeral: Thousands Pay Final Respects

Thousands of people are saying a final farewell to former South African president Nelson Mandela as he is laid to rest in his ancestral home.

Some 4,000 people are attending the state funeral of the anti-apartheid hero, including family members, African leaders and several heads of state.

The mourners include retired Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who was earlier said to have been "heartbroken" to have apparently missed out on an invite, and the Prince of Wales, who is representing the Queen.

Members of the armed forces marched alongside Mr Mandela's coffin

Mr Mandela's coffin, draped in his country's flag, was carried to the service on a military carriage, as a 21-gun salute echoed around the village of Qunu, his childhood home.

It was placed in front of a stage, on which 95 candles - one for each year of his life - were lit and a huge portrait of a smiling Mr Mandela displayed.

High-profile guests at the service included businessman Sir Richard Branson and TV chat show host Oprah Winfrey, while prominent US civil rights activist Reverend Jessie Jackson and Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams also made the journey to South Africa.

Ahmed Kathrada, who was imprisoned on Robben Island for 26 years with Mr Mandela, gave a heartfelt tribute to a man he described as his "elder brother".

Speaking directly to his friend, he said: "What can we say ... in these, our last, final moments together?

"Your abundant reserves of love, simplicity, honesty, service, humility, care, courage, foresight, patience, tolerance, equality and justice continually serve as a source of enormous strength to millions."

Mr Kathrada said his close friend was an "enormous" source of strength

Holding back tears, he added: "My life is in a void and I don't know who to turn to."

Hailemariam Desalegn, the Ethiopian Prime Minister and chairman of the African Union, said: "(Mr Mandela) was one of Africa's greatest sons and an iconic figure of exceptional contribution to humanity.

"Madiba's life has been a record of all the trials and tribulations the entire continent has had to endure.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu initially thought he had missed out on an invite

"His was a life of struggle in the face of unparalleled odds. A life of suffering in the hands of malicious perpetrators of injustice. A life of perseverance in the face of challenge."

He added: "We are not mourning. We are celebrating humanity at its finest. We should find consolation that his legacy will live on for eternity."

A military plane, escorted by two fighter jets, brought Mr Mandela's body from a farewell service in Pretoria to Mthatha in South Africa's Eastern Cape.

Oprah Winfrey and Sir Richard Branson are among those attending the service

Tens of thousands of people lined the roads as the funeral procession passed by, although some were angry the cortege did not stop to allow them time to pay their respects.

Preparations for service - the first ever state funeral in South Africa - were marred by a public spat between the country's government and Mr Tutu, one of the most prominent survivors in the long struggle against apartheid.

Mr Tutu, a Nobel laureate who has been critical of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party, initially said he was not invited - an apparent snub that the government has denied.

A 21-gun salute heralded the arrival of Nelson Mandela's coffin

"Much as I would have loved to attend the service to say a final farewell to someone I loved and treasured, it would have been disrespectful to Tata (Mandela) to gatecrash what was billed as a private family funeral," he said.

"Had I or my office been informed that I would be welcome there is no way on earth that I would have missed it."

However, when the South African presidency said a solution would be found allowing Mr Tutu to attend, a spokesman for the 82-year-old foundation confirmed he would be travelling to the Eastern Cape to attend the funeral of his close friend.

Mr Mandela's body was driven to Qunu amid tight security

More than 100,000 people saw Mr Mandela's body lying in state in Pretoria over the last three days, but some had to be turned away.

The former leader, who was imprisoned for 27 years for opposing racist apartheid before emerging in 1990 to forge a new democratic South Africa, died on December 5.

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