Huge crowds file past Nelson Mandela's body in Pretoria

Thousands of South Africans have queued to view the body of former President Nelson Mandela in Pretoria. Mr Mandela's body was lying in state at the government buildings where he was sworn in as South Africa's first black president in 1994. Among those paying their respects were his widow Graca Machel, President Jacob Zuma, celebrities including Bono and other relatives and officials. Mr Mandela died last Thursday at the age of 95 and will be buried on Sunday. His funeral will take place in his home village of Qunu in Eastern Cape province. Tens of thousands of South Africans joined scores of world leaders for a national memorial service on Tuesday, as part of a series of commemorations. The former president's grandson, Ndaba Mandela, said his grandfather would have been touched by the way his death had united people all over the world. "I think he would have been completely humbled by it, to see so many people just share their love, their appreciation, just the sense of appreciation that he has given them," he said. Patience of the crowds People queued in various parts of the city for the chance to see Mr Mandela's body. Thousands managed to gain entry, but the BBC's Peter Biles in Pretoria says hundreds more were turned away before public viewing ended at 17:30 (15:30 GMT). Mr Mandela's coffin will be lying in state for two more days, so the disappointed can try again on Thursday or Friday. Our correspondent says those queuing have shown enormous patience with the lengthy process of gaining admission, which involves stringent security checks. Earlier, crowds watched as the coffin was taken in procession from a hospital mortuary to the Union Buildings.