Pictures From The Memorial Service In Honour Of Nelson Mandela.

Huge crowds of grieving South Africans converged at Soweto's World Cup stadium Tuesday, to sit side-by-side with presidents, priests, queens and sheikhs at a memorial service for unifying global icon Nelson Mandela. 
 Mandela, former South African President and anti-apartheid icon, passed away last Thursday at the age of 95. World leaders  joined South Africans for his memorial service earlier today.more pictures after cut..



 
 



President Obama pays his respect to former South African President Nelson Mandela's widow Graca Machel after his speech at the memorial service.  









Late South African President Nelson Mandela's ex-wife Winnie (l.) and wife Graca Machael (r.) attend the official memorial service for Mandela.

 
  Obama compared the former South African President to Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. and Abraham Lincoln. He said Mandela had earned his place in history through struggle, shrewdness, persistence and faith.
 
Former US President George W. Bush (2nd row 2R) and world leaders attend the memorial service of South African former president Nelson Mandela at the FNB Stadium (Soccer City) in Johannesburg.


 
President Barack Obama (left) shakes hands with Cuban President Raul Castro during the official memorial service for former South African President Nelson Mandela at FNB Stadium December 10, 2013 in Johannesburg, South Africa. 















 
US President Bill Clinton (frontR), his wife former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (C) and their daughter Chelsea and former US President George W. Bush (backR) and his wife Laura Bush attending the memorial service for late South African President Nelson Mandela.


 
Archbishop Desmond Tutu (l.) arrives with joint UN-Arab League Syria envoy Lakhdar Brahimi (r.) and former US President Jimmy Carter (c.) as they arrive at the FNB Stadium in Soweto, South Africa. 


British prime minister David Cameron is interviewed by media prior to the service. 

 
Frederik Willem De Klerk, the former South African president who freed Mandela from prison, arrives with his wife Elita for the memorial service

Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito (left) and his delegation are greeted by on arrival .