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Nelson Mandela: UK to send huge political delegation to South Africa Nelson Mandela: UK to send huge political delegation to South Africa
(about 1 hour later)
David Cameron will be joined by Sir John Major, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband as part of a huge British political delegation travelling to the memorial service for Nelson Mandela.David Cameron will be joined by Sir John Major, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband as part of a huge British political delegation travelling to the memorial service for Nelson Mandela.
The unprecedented array of former prime ministers and current political leaders will be among up to 100,000 people expected to attend the ceremony at the FNB football stadium in Johannesburg on Tuesday.The unprecedented array of former prime ministers and current political leaders will be among up to 100,000 people expected to attend the ceremony at the FNB football stadium in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
It is thought to be the first time for many years that all of the UK's surviving prime ministers have gone to the same event abroad, although they are likely to travel separately.It is thought to be the first time for many years that all of the UK's surviving prime ministers have gone to the same event abroad, although they are likely to travel separately.
Around 50 world leaders, including the US president, Barack Obama, will fly in for the service as part of South Africa's week-long official mourning, as well as celebrities such as Sir Richard Branson, Bono and Oprah Winfrey.Around 50 world leaders, including the US president, Barack Obama, will fly in for the service as part of South Africa's week-long official mourning, as well as celebrities such as Sir Richard Branson, Bono and Oprah Winfrey.
Crowds of ordinary mourners are also expected to descend on the sports arena where Mandela made his last public appearance for the closing ceremony of the 2010 football world cup. Crowds of ordinary mourners are also expected to descend on the sports arena where Mandela made his last public appearance for the closing ceremony of the 2010 football World Cup.
According to the prime minister's official spokesman, the guest-list of British politicians was drawn up by the South African government following discussions with Downing Street about the logistics of the trip. According to the prime minister's official spokesman, the guest list of British politicians was drawn up by the South African government following discussions with Downing Street about the logistics of the trip.
Before he flies to South Africa, Cameron will join MPs in memorial tributes to Mandela in the House of Commons on Monday afternoon. Departmental question time has been suspended to allow for the special commemorative session and the rest of the day's business may also be scrapped. Before he flies to South Africa, Cameron will join MPs in memorial tributes to Mandela in the House of Commons on Monday afternoon. Departmental question time has been suspended to allow for the commemorative session and the rest of the day's business may also be scrapped.
The Johannesburg memorial service will be a more international affair than Mandela's state funeral, which will take place in his tiny home village of Qunu in the Eastern Cape on Sunday.The Johannesburg memorial service will be a more international affair than Mandela's state funeral, which will take place in his tiny home village of Qunu in the Eastern Cape on Sunday.
However, the Prince of Wales, representing the Queen, will be among a smaller group of statesmen attending the funeral itself. However, the Prince of Wales, representing the Queen, will be among a smaller group attending the funeral itself.
The former South African president, who was incarcerated for 27 years by the apartheid regime, died at his home in Houghton, Johannesburg, on Thursday, aged 95.The former South African president, who was incarcerated for 27 years by the apartheid regime, died at his home in Houghton, Johannesburg, on Thursday, aged 95.
The mourning arrangements are some of the most complex ever to be planned for a political leader and have been drawn up by the former president's family, the federal government, the military, and the African National Congress political party.The mourning arrangements are some of the most complex ever to be planned for a political leader and have been drawn up by the former president's family, the federal government, the military, and the African National Congress political party.
South Africa is holding a national day of prayer on Monday, then Mandela's body will lie in state in a glass coffin at the Union Buildings in Pretoria from Wednesday until Friday.South Africa is holding a national day of prayer on Monday, then Mandela's body will lie in state in a glass coffin at the Union Buildings in Pretoria from Wednesday until Friday.
On Saturday, senior members of the ANC will be invited to say their farewell to Mandela at an air force base in Pretoria, and his coffin will then be flown to the town of Mthatha in the Eastern Cape. On Saturday, senior members of the ANC will be invited to say their farewells to Mandela at an air force base in Pretoria, and his coffin will then be flown to the town of Mthatha in the Eastern Cape.
After that, his body will be taken by road in a funeral cortege to Qunu, where he will be buried in a small graveyard on the hillside overlooking his villa in a Thembu ceremony after the state funeral.After that, his body will be taken by road in a funeral cortege to Qunu, where he will be buried in a small graveyard on the hillside overlooking his villa in a Thembu ceremony after the state funeral.
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