Global peace icon Nelson Mandela's death mourned world over

With moist eyes and tributes on their lips, people across the world today mourned the death of global anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela, hailed as a "true Gandhian" and an inspiration for millions like US President Barack Obama.

Mandela, South Africa's first elected black president, died early today, at his home in Houghton, a suburb of Johannesburg, following a lengthy illness. He was 95.

"Our beloved Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, the founding President of our democratic nation, has departed," South African President Jacob Zuma said in a televised address to the nation.

"Our nation has lost its greatest son. Our people have lost a father," he said.

Rich tributes poured in from across the globe as world leaders paid their homages to the respected statesman.

Describing himself as one of the countless millions who drew inspiration from Mandela, Obama mourned his death and said that the world was unlikely to see a leader like him again.

"I am one of the countless millions who drew inspiration from Nelson Mandela's life. My very first political action -- the first thing I ever did that involved an issue or a policy or politics was a protest against apartheid," Obama told reporters soon after he was informed about Mandela's death.

"He no longer belongs to us - he belongs to the ages," he said of his fellow Nobel Peace laureate.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Security Council also mourned Mandela's demise, saying the South African leader was a "giant for justice" and a human inspiration who made great personal sacrifices in his lifelong fight against racial oppression.

"Nelson Mandela was a singular figure on the global stage, a man of quiet dignity and towering achievement, a giant for justice and a down-to-earth human inspiration. I am profoundly saddened by his passing," Ban said in his condolence message.

Indians living abroad mourned the death of Mandela, who in his lifetime had said that Mahatma Gandhi was his inspiration. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in condoling Mandela's death hailed him as a "true Gandhian".

The Elders, a group of global leaders set up by Mandela to pursue peace and human rights, said they "join millions of people around the world who were inspired by his courage and touched by his compassion".

The group's chair, Kofi Annan, said the world had lost "a clear moral compass".

British Prime Minister David Cameron paid a rich tribute to Mandela, saying, "the brightest light of our world has gone out".