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Parliament to pay tribute to Mandela | Parliament to pay tribute to Mandela |
(about 3 hours later) | |
MPs and peers are to pay tribute to Nelson Mandela during the opening of business at the Houses of Parliament. | |
The Commons speaker has said honouring the former South African president, who died on Thursday, would be MPs' "principal occupation" of the day. | The Commons speaker has said honouring the former South African president, who died on Thursday, would be MPs' "principal occupation" of the day. |
A civic event will take place later in the week at Westminster Hall, where Mr Mandela addressed both houses in 1996. | A civic event will take place later in the week at Westminster Hall, where Mr Mandela addressed both houses in 1996. |
Some 60 heads of state and government have said they will attend his memorial service or state funeral. | Some 60 heads of state and government have said they will attend his memorial service or state funeral. |
Prime Minister David Cameron will represent the UK and join other world leaders at the service on Tuesday at the Soweto stadium in Johannesburg. | |
The stadium was the venue for the closing ceremony of the World Cup in 2010 - Mr Mandela's last public appearance. | |
British entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson and singer Peter Gabriel - who both devised The Elders forum of statesmen and activists set up by Mr Mandela in 2007 to help solve global disputes - are also due at the service. | |
Meanwhile, the Prince of Wales is to represent the Queen at Mr Mandela's funeral on 15 December in the rural location of Qunu - the ex-president's childhood village. | |
The Queen will be unable to attend because of the length of the journey. She has said she is "deeply saddened" by his death. | |
The monarch is, however, expected to attend a national service of thanksgiving for the life of Mr Mandela at Westminster Abbey, which will take place in the new year. | |
Mr Mandela died at home at the age of 95, after several months of ill health. | Mr Mandela died at home at the age of 95, after several months of ill health. |
Ahead of the tributes in Parliament, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg is expected to be among those signing a book of condolence at South Africa's High Commission in London. Mr Cameron and Labour leader Ed Miliband added their dedications last week. | |
A book of condolence has also been set up in the Commons library for MPs, peers and staff to sign. | A book of condolence has also been set up in the Commons library for MPs, peers and staff to sign. |
Tributes and flowers have continued to be laid at Mr Mandela's statue in Parliament Square. He visited the UK for its unveiling in 2007 by the then Prime Minister Gordon Brown. | Tributes and flowers have continued to be laid at Mr Mandela's statue in Parliament Square. He visited the UK for its unveiling in 2007 by the then Prime Minister Gordon Brown. |
Following an opening address by Speaker John Bercow, Mr Cameron will lead tributes to Mr Mandela in the Commons at its usual Monday start time of 14:30 GMT. The scheduled business of defence questions will be postponed. | |
Other party leaders are also expected to pay their respects. | |
Last week, Mr Bercow said: "There will certainly be tributes expressed in Parliament and it's my confident expectation that Monday will be devoted to that cause." | |
Tributes are planned in the House of Lords for the same time. | |
Sources have said the event planned for Westminster Hall later in the week will be for a wide range of people whose lives were influenced by the former South African president. | Sources have said the event planned for Westminster Hall later in the week will be for a wide range of people whose lives were influenced by the former South African president. |
On Sunday, the Archbishop of Canterbury paid tribute to Mr Mandela at a service of thanksgiving at St-Martin-in-the-Fields church in central London. | On Sunday, the Archbishop of Canterbury paid tribute to Mr Mandela at a service of thanksgiving at St-Martin-in-the-Fields church in central London. |