South Africa's Nelson Mandela dies in Johannesburg

RIP Nelson Mandela

In a statement on South African national TV, Jacob Zuma said Mr Mandela had "departed" and was at peace.

"Our nation has lost its greatest son," Mr Zuma said.

He said Mr Mandela would receive a full state funeral, and flags would be flown at half-mast.
BBC correspondents say Mr Mandela's body will be moved to a mortuary in Pretoria, and the funeral is likely to take place next Saturday.

A crowd has gathered outside the house where Mr Mandela died. Some are flying South African flags and wearing the shirts of the governing African National Congress, which Mr Mandela once led.

The Nobel Peace Prize laureate was one of the world's most revered statesmen after preaching reconciliation despite being imprisoned for 27 years.

He had rarely been seen in public since officially retiring in 2004. He made his last public appearance in 2010, at the football World Cup in South Africa.

Mr Obama, the first black president of the United States, said he was one of the millions who drew inspiration from Mr Mandela's life.

FW de Klerk, who as South Africa's last white president ordered Mr Mandela's release, called him a "unifier" and said he had "a remarkable lack of bitterness".

He told the BBC: "I think his greatest legacy... is that we are basically at peace with each other notwithstanding our great diversity, that we will be taking hands once again now around his death and around our common sadness and mourning."

UK Prime Minister David Cameron also paid tribute, saying "a great light has gone out in the world".

Note EU-Digest: A great leader dies and  joins George Washington, Napoleon, Ataturk, Mao Gandhi and Churchill in the ranks of leaders who changed the course of history

Read more: BBC News - South Africa's Nelson Mandela dies in Johannesburg