World remembers Nelson Mandela

Mourners wave South African flags ahead of the memorial service for the late Nelson Mandela at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, 10 December 2013. South Africans are gathering at the FNB Stadium for a huge memorial service for Nelson Mandela that will be attended by dozens of world leaders. Nobel Peace Prize winner Nelson Mandela died on 05 December at the age of 95: photo - EPA/IAN LANGSDON

Radoslaw Sikorski joined around 90 dignitaries, including US president Barrack Obama and Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe, for the farewell service for the late Nelson Mandela, who died last Friday aged 95.

Minister Sikorski, who is representing Poland at the ceremony, tweeted from stadium: “Historic moment. First black president of USA makes his eulogy to first black president of RSA”.

Barack Obama hailed Nelson Mandela as a "giant of justice" but said too many leaders in the world claimed solidarity with his struggle for freedom "but do not tolerate dissent from their own people".

PM Tusk signs book of condolences at SA Embassy: photo - PAP/Paweł Supernak

As what has been reported as “raucous” celebrations got under way in Soweto, Prime Minister Donald Tusk signed the book of condolences at the South African Embassy in the Polish capital, where he wrote: “On behalf of the Polish government, I would like to express deep regret at the death of former South African President Nelson Mandela .

"Nelson Mandela will always remain in our memories as a prominent politician and statesman , Nobel Peace Prize winner and above all a tireless fighter for social justice and freedom for the South African nation,” Tusk wrote.

Former president of Poland and fellow Nobel Peace Prize winner Lech Walesa signed the condolences book in Warsaw, in which he thanked Mandela for his “courage to fight for a better world”.

Lech Walesa was to attend the ceremony in Johannesburg but pulled at the last moment citing tiredness after a trip to the US. (pg)