六萬餘人雲集約翰內斯堡向曼德拉致敬

More than 60,000 people gathered in Johannesburg Tuesday for a memorial service to honor late South African President Nelson Mandela.

A steady rain did not stop mourners from singing and dancing in tribute to Mr. Mandela, as speakers praised his role in ending apartheid and healing South Africa's racial divisions.

U.N. Secretary-General said Mr. Mandela's passing is an enormous loss.

"South Africa has lost a hero. You have lost a father. The world has lost a beloved friend and mentor. Nelson Mandela was more than one of the greatest leaders of our time, he was one of our greatest teachers."

U.S. President Barack Obama said Mr. Mandela, and South Africa, showed how fights for freedom and human rights can be won.

"Nelson Mandela reminds us that it always seems impossible until it is done. South Africa shows that is true. South Africa shows we can change. That we can choose a world defined not by our differences, but by our common hopes. We can choose a world defined not by conflict, but by peace and justice and opportunity."

Other speakers included Cuban President Raul Castro and Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff.

Mr. Mandela became South Africa's first black president in 1994, after being imprisoned for 27 years for his role in the struggle against white minority rule.

The service was held in Johannesburg's main stadium used for the 2010 World Cup football (soccer) finals.

The venue is also the place where Mr. Mandela made his last public appearance at the closing ceremony of the first-ever World Cup in Africa.

Along with President Obama, the U.S. delegation included first lady Michelle Obama and former Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter.

Mr. Mandela's remains will lie in state at the Union Buildings in Pretoria -- the official seat of the South African government -- on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

The memorials and events will culminate in Mr. Mandela's burial on December 15 in his boyhood home village of Qunu.六萬多人聚集在南非約翰內斯堡，參加追悼儀式，緬懷已故南非總統納爾遜·曼德拉。

雖然陰雨綿綿，但人羣的激情絲毫不減。參加追悼儀式的人羣載歌載舞，向曼德拉表達敬意。發言者紛紛盛讚曼德拉爲結束南非種族隔離制度與治療種族對立傷口所做的貢獻。

聯合國祕書長潘基文說，曼德拉的逝世是全世界的巨大損失。

他說：“南非失去了一位英雄。你們失去了一位父親。全世界失去了一位親愛的朋友和導師。納爾遜·曼德拉不僅僅是我們這一時代的最偉大領袖之一，他還是我們最偉大的導師之一。”

美國總統奧巴馬說，曼德拉和南非向世人顯示，爭取自由和人權的鬥爭如何能夠贏得勝利。

他說：“納爾遜·曼德拉提醒我們，在事情做成之前，看起來似乎總是不可能做成的。南非向我們顯示，那就是事實。南非向我們顯示，我們能夠帶來變革。我們能夠選擇一個不是由我們的不同而是由我們的共同希望來界定的世界。我們可以選擇一個不是由衝突而是由和平、正義和機會來界定的世界。”

其他發言者包括古巴總統勞爾·卡斯特羅和巴西總統迪爾瑪·羅塞夫。

曼德拉因爲領導反對佔少數的白人統治的鬥爭而坐牢27年，後來在1994年成爲南非首任黑人總統。

追悼儀式在約翰內斯堡的主要體育場舉行，這裏曾舉辦過2010年的世界盃決賽。曼德拉最後一次公開露面也是在這座體育場。他參加了世界盃的閉幕式。那是非洲首次主辦世界盃足球賽。

除了奧巴馬總統之外，美國代表團還包括第一夫人米歇爾·奧巴馬和三位前總統：小布什、克林頓與卡特。

從星期三到星期五，曼德拉的遺體將安放在比勒陀利亞的聯盟大廈。這裏是南非政府所在地。

悼念儀式和相關活動將持續到12月15日，曼德拉在這一天將被安葬在他童年的故居庫努村。