Cheers: When America's first couple flashed
up on screen the crowd roared their approval of the U.S.'s first black
President
Relatives: Mr Mandela's ex-wife Winnie
Mandela
Madikizela (left) and his widow Graca Machel (far right) take their
seats in the stadium
Mourning: Mr Mandela's former wife Winnie
Mandela Madikizela (centre), who famously greeted her husband as he left
prison, arrives at the ceremony
Family affair: (front row) Mr Mandela's
daughters Zindzi, Zenani and Makaziwe Mandela, ex-wife Winnie Mandela
Madikizela and widow Graca Machel before the service
A man waves a South African flag: South
Africans
have been praised for the 'dignified' way in which they have
commemorated Mr Mandela's death
Umbrella weather: The ceremony started an
hour
late in the pouring rain to allow dignitaries and members of the public
to file in to the arena
Among the other international
dignitaries to attend the event are several current and former British
leaders, including David Cameron, Nick Clegg, Gordon Brown, Tony Blair
and John Major.The memorial will feature tributes by some of the anti-Apartheid icon's family and a speech from United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
Who's who of world leaders: VIPs and
dignitaries watch from the tribune as rain lashes down during the
memorial service
Paying tribute: World leaders converged on
the
FNB Stadium in Soweto, the Johannesburg township that was a stronghold
of support for the anti-apartheid struggle that Mandela embodied
Successor: Jacob Zuma, the current
president of South Africa, is giving the keynote speech during the
ceremony
Ally: FW de Klerk, who was awarded the
Nobel
Prize along with Mandela for his role in ending apartheid, arrives with
his wife Elita
The highest spots: Spectators gather ahead
of the Tuesday memorial ceremony
Colourful: A woman dressed in the regalia
of the South African national rugby team arriving at the stadium
Interfaith
prayers were then held to reflect his global appeal before Mandela's
friend, Andrew Mlangeni, who was imprisoned alongside the leader, speaks
to the crowd. 
Close ties: Supermodel Naomi Campbell, who
Mr
Mandela described as his 'honorary granddaughter', enters the FNB
stadium ahead of the service
Controversial: Reviled Zimbabwean President
Robert Mugabe is questioned by reporters as he makes his way into the
stadium
Representatives: David Cameron and Nick
Clegg were attending the ceremony along with three former Prime
Ministers of Britain
Arrival: Mr Cameron, Mr Clegg and John
Major walking in to the FNB Stadium this morning
Touching down: President Obama and First
Lady
Michelle looked collected and sombre after coming off the 17-hour flight
on Air Force One
Welcoming committee: President Obama and
Michelle (who is covered by an umbrella) are greeted Tuesday morning on
the tarmac in Johannesburg by International Relations Minister Maite
Nkoane-Mashabane (center)
Former President George W. Bush and his
wife
Laura are seen coming off of Air Force One after the Obamas as the two
couples shared the plane with former Secretary of State and first lady
Hillary Clinton
Lines of succession: Obama led the
Americans,
followed by Michelle, then former President George Bush, Laura Bush, and
Hillary Clinton seen just slightly at the end
When Mr Ramaphosa introduced the assembled
dignitaries at the
start of the service, nearly all were welcomed by cheers - except
current president Jacob Zuma, whose name was met by loud booing.Those attended seemed to be in celebratory spirits, but the rain meant that most of the uncovered lower section of the stadium was left empty.
President Obama and Raul Castro are two of the world leaders who have been asked to give speeches - in spite of the animosity between them - but the focus of the day will remain on the work of Mr Mandela.
Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao, Brazilian president Dilma Roussef, Namibian president Hifikepunye Pohamba and Indian president Pranab Mukherjee will also make speeches before a keynote address by South Africa's President Jacob Zuma and a sermon by Bishop Ivan Abrahams.
Celebration: A mourner wearing a wig in the
South African national colours arrives at the stadium
Dance: Many of those inside the stadium
were dancing to celebrate the life of the former leader
Tribute: Many of those attending the
memorial were decked out in national flags and wearing celebratory
clothing
Unity: Mandela is loved by South Africans
for his efforts to transform the racially divided country into the
'Rainbow Nation'
Stars: U2 singer Bono and South African
actress Charlize Theron talking in the crowd at the ceremony
Dignitaries: Sir John Major and Tony Blair
were two of the former Prime Ministers of the UK to attend in honour of
Mandela
Respected: Former UN Secretary General Kofi
Annan arrived with Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former President Jimmy
Carter
Almost 100 foreign heads of state are expected at the memorial, which is poised to be one of the largest such gatherings in generations.
Among the mourners pictured arriving at the ceremony were former UN secretary general Kofi Annan, ex-U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and Desmond Tutu, the Archbishop of Cape Town who was Mandela's ally in bringing apartheid to an end.
However, Israel's president Benjamin Netanyahu has decided not to attend, because the cost of providing security for him would be too great.
A number of African presidents - including the reviled Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe - have already been pictured arriving in South Africa ahead of Mr Obama and Mr Bush, who traveled together alongside their wives and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on board Air Force One.
Jovial: Former UN Secretary-General Kofi
Annan
(left) and retired Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu appear in good
spirits as they arrive for the service
Embraced: Former British Prime Minister
Tony Blair (left) is greeted after arriving for the memorial service in
Johannesburg
Sense of humour: Former President of
Ireland
Mary Robinson (left) chats with Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu arrive
inside the FNB stadium
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