Nelson Mandela's Coffin Goes On Public View

Thousands of South Africans lined the streets of Pretoria to pay their respects as the body of Nelson Mandela was taken to lie in state. The coffin was draped in the multi-coloured South African flag as it arrived at the grand setting of the Union Buildings, seat of power in the country's capital and the place where the former leader was sworn in as president.

Members of the public formed a guard of honour as his coffin passed by fronted by a fleet of police outriders, at the start of what will be three days of mourning in the executive capital. As the procession passed, mourners sang tributes to the former South African leader, who died last week at the age of 95. Members of Mr Mandela's family and VIPs will pay their respects before the public are allowed in to view the body inside a glass-topped coffin. The same procession will take place each morning until Friday, with the coffin being returned to the military hospital each evening. With worries about crowds, three sites have been set up in Pretoria from where mourners will be shuttled in to the Union Buildings and back. People have been told their mobile phones will have to be switched off and be put out of sight before they will be allowed to file past the body. No photos will be allowed. The lying in state will end with Mr Mandela's remains being transported to the Eastern Cape and his ancestral home of Qunu at the weekend ahead of his funeral. Buckingham Palace has confirmed that the Queen will be represented by the Prince of Wales at the funeral which will take place on Sunday December 15. Nelson Mandela left it to the South African people to decide how to celebrate his life and legacy. He said once when asked how he wished to be remembered: "It would be very egotistical of me to say how I would like to be remembered. "I'd leave that entirely to South Africans. I would just like a simple stone on which is written, 'Mandela'."