Queen: 'South African president "worked tirelessly for good of country"'
Prime Minister David Cameron: 'A great light has gone out in the world'
President Obama said he counted him as a 'personal inspiration'
Muhammad Ali, Bill Gates and Mike Tyson have mourned his passing
President Barack Obama has paid an
emotional tribute to his personal hero Nelson Mandela, saying he could not
imagine life without the former South African President.
Speaking shortly after the death of the civil
rights leader was announced, Mr Obama said now is the time for people to pause
and honor the fact 'that Nelson Mandela lived.
He said: 'Like so many around the globe, I
cannot fully imagine my life without the example that Nelson Mandela set.'
'He no longer belongs to us - he belongs to
the ages,' Mr Obama said from the White House briefing room.
 |
| Mourning Madiba: President Barack Obama was one of the first world leaders to make a statement following Nelson Mandela's death |
The
Queen (UK) has said she is 'deeply saddened' to learn of Nelson Mandela's
death, saying the former South African president 'worked tirelessly for the
good of his country'.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: 'Every so often history produces an individual whose message is universal, and Nelson Mandela will be mourned and missed on every continent around the globe.'
Labour leader Ed Miliband called his
work to unite South Africa in the face of personal hardship and oppression
'extraordinary'.
He said: 'The world has lost the inspirational
figure of our age. Nelson Mandela taught people across the globe the true
meaning of courage, strength, hope and reconciliation.'
Foreign Secretary William Hague said Mr
Mandela's life story is 'a compelling and inspiringly profound political
journey'.
Former prime minister Tony Blair said
the political leader was 'great man' who had made racism 'not just immoral but
stupid', while former prime minister Gordon Brown called Mr Mandela 'the
greatest leader of our generation'.
UN Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon tweeted
that he would never forget Mandela's 'selflessness and deep sense of shared
purpose'.
The timing of the legendary leader's death was
particularly poignant for Prince William and Duchess Catherine as they
were at the London premiere of the new Mandela film alongside two of Madiba's
daughters.
After the movie let out, the Prince released a
brief statement saying that the film refreshed their memory of how important
his work in South Africa was.
Bill Clinton, who met with Mandela on a number of occasions and grew close with the elderly leader, released a statement on behalf of his family.
His father, George H W Bush, called Mandela 'one of the greatest believers in freedom'.
'As president, I watched in wonder as Nelson
Mandela had the remarkable capacity to forgive his jailers following 26 years
of wrongful imprisonment - setting a powerful example of redemption and grace
for us all. He was a man of tremendous moral courage, who changed the course of
history in his country,' Mr Bush said.
President Jimmy Carter mirrored Bush's
sentiment, saying '[Mandela's] passion for freedom and justice created new hope
for generations of oppressed people worldwide.'
British Prime Minister David Cameron
tweeted that the flag at No 10 Downing Street would be flown at half-mast.
'A great light has gone out in the world,' Mr
Cameron said. 'Nelson Mandela was a hero of our time.'
Ed Miliband also released a statement, drawing on their
political connections.
'During the struggle against apartheid, the
Labour party was proud to stand with the people of South Africa in solidarity.
Today we stand with the people of South Africa in mourning,' he said in his
statement.
'He moved the world and the world will miss
him deeply.'
Muhammad
Ali, a champion for
civil rights himself, said he was 'deeply saddened' to hear about Madiba's
passing.
Fellow
champion boxer Mike Tyson tweeted about Mandela's passing while on a
trip to Africa, saying Mandela was the 'embodiment of discipline, courage, love
and forgiveness'.
Many
who met Mandela, tweeted pictures of themselves with the legendary leader
-including Larry King. King
said that Mandela was one of the most eloquent and classy people he had ever
interviewed on his show.
No comments:
Post a Comment