Nelson Mandela dies at 95

Nelson Mandela, the former president of South Africa who became a symbol of the struggle against apartheid, has died at the age of 95.

The South African president, Jacob Zuma, announced on the night of 5 December that Mandela had died peacefully at his home in Johannesburg, surrounded by his family.

A long walk to freedom

Mandela was a leader of the African National Congress, which campaigned against apartheid, the system of racial segregation imposed by South Africa's white minority government.

In 1964, he was sentenced to life imprisonment for sabotage. He spent 27 years in prison, most of them on Robben Island, before being released in February 1990.

He then led negotiations with the government of FW de Klerk to end apartheid. The two men shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.

President

In 1994, after the country's first elections in which people of all races could vote, Mandela became South Africa's first black president. He served one term, working to reconcile black and white South Africans and setting up the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate the crimes of the apartheid era.

One of the most famous images of his presidency was when he wore a Springbok rugby shirt to present the World Cup to South Africa's captain in 1995, a gesture seen as a symbol of unity.

Tributes

Tributes have poured in from around the world. President Zuma said the nation had lost its greatest son. The American president, Barack Obama, said Mandela belonged to the ages.

The Prime Minister, David Cameron, said a great light had gone out in the world, and flags have been lowered at Downing Street.

Britain

Mandela had a close relationship with Britain, where the anti-apartheid movement was strong. He visited many times after his release and addressed both Houses of Parliament.

A statue of him stands in Parliament Square in London. In Birmingham, community leaders have paid tribute to a man who inspired people of all backgrounds.

Mourning

South Africa will hold ten days of mourning, and a memorial service will be attended by world leaders. Mandela will be buried in his home village of Qunu in the Eastern Cape.

Crowds gathered outside his home, singing and dancing in celebration of his life.