Ordinary South Africans are queuing in their thousands to pay their respects to former President Nelson Mandela.
The body of the anti-apartheid leader is lying in state at
the Union Buildings in Pretoria, where Mr Mandela was sworn in as South
Africa's first black president in 1994.Thursday's viewing is reserved for the general public. Many who queued on Wednesday were turned away.
Mr Mandela will be buried at his ancestral home in Qunu on Sunday.
His widow Graca Machel and President Jacob Zuma were among those to pay their respects on Wednesday. World leaders and celebrities also came to say goodbye to Mr Mandela, who died last Thursday at the age of 95.
On Friday the body will lie in state for a third day.
The body is lying in state at Pretoria's Union Buildings
Thursday is reserved for ordinary South Africans
Some were overcome with emotion after viewing the body
Security forces are searching all visitors to the Union Buildings
Those paying their respects have been asked not to bring cameras and to turn off their mobile phones.
Huge crowds queued to visit the open casket on Wednesday, tolerating long waits and stringent security checks.
Thousands were successful, but many did not reach the front of the queue before public viewing ended at 17:30 (15:30 GMT).
Many returned on Thursday for another chance.
"My heart is so broken," Anita Bodiba, 35, who arrived at 04:30 local time (02:30 GMT) to join the queue, told the AFP news agency.
"I can't even sleep, I'm thinking of Madiba. He is the one who united us here in South Africa -- white people, black people, Indian people," she said.
Long queues of mourners wait catch a bus
to view the body of ex-President Nelson Mandela, a scene reminiscent of
that in 1994 when voters queued in Soweto
A long line of people wait outside the
polling station in Soweto to vote in South Africa's first all-race
elections in April 1994
"As he lies in peace at the Union Buildings, Madiba would be happy to know he is surrounded by thousands of South Africans, whom he loved and served - or served with - in the prosecution of the just struggle for democracy, and in laying the foundations in 1994 for a non-racial, non-sexist, democratic South Africa," they said.
"We are humbled that millions of South Africans who loved him, stood by him through his trials and tribulations, supported him... can now join us in bidding him farewell."
Correspondents said Mr Mandela's body could be seen through a glass screen, dressed in one of his trademark patterned shirts.
At each end of the casket stood two navy officers clad in white uniforms, with their swords pointing down.
Among the dignitaries to file past were former President FW de Klerk, Mr Mandela's ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and musician and activist Bono.
The U2 singer accompanied Mr Mandela's long-time aide Zelda Le Grange.
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Lying in state
- Nelson Mandela's body lies in state at the Union Buildings in Pretoria 11-13 December
- Coffin taken every morning from the mortuary to the Union Buildings
- Public encouraged to line the route
- Mandela family and selected visitors viewed the body from 10:00 on Wednesday; open to public from midday
- The public is then able to view the body from 08:00 to 17:30 on Thursday and Friday
World leaders joined tens of
thousands of South Africans at a huge memorial memorial service on
Tuesday in Johannesburg as part of the commemorations leading up to the
funeral.
After Mr Mandela's body has lain in state for three days, it
will be flown to the rural area of the Eastern Cape where the former
president grew up.A military guard of honour will welcome the arrival, and the coffin will be placed on a gun carriage and transported to a hearse.
Mr Mandela's body will then be taken to his home village of Qunu, where the Thembu community will conduct a traditional ceremony.
A national day of reconciliation will take place on 16 December when a statue of Mr Mandela will be unveiled at the Union Buildings.
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