MPs to pay tribute to Nelson Mandela in the Commons

Political hostilities will be temporarily halted in the Commons as politicians gather to pay tribute to Nelson Mandela.

Question time has been suspended to allow MPs to honour the memory of the former South African president who died last week.

Speaker John Bercow will make the opening address, followed by words from David Cameron and other party leaders.

The Prime Minister will later fly to Johannesburg where he is among tens of thousands due at a stadium memorial service tomorrow.

South African expats all around the world gather to pay tribute to Nelson Mandela who died on Thursday evening.

People gathered in London to sing and dance and celebrate the life of the anti-apartheid hero.

The Archbishop of Canterbury has praised Nelson Mandela for his "extraordinary" courage at a service of thanksgiving for the life of the former South African president.

The Most Rev Justin Welby told a congregation at St Martin-in-the-Fields in London's Trafalgar Square that the 95-year-old was the "rarest of leaders" as he thanked God for his life.

"Nelson Mandela showed his courage by his determination in the face of evil and by his humanity in the experience of victory," the archbishop said.

"What is more, such courage and humanity were learned and demonstrated in the mists of conflict and suffering.

"He was that rarest of leaders, those who learn from terrible events so as to exhaust all their lessons, rather than being shaped by them into bitterness and hatred."

Watch: Nelson Mandela 'stood for freedom and fought oppression'

The Archbishop of Canterbury will lead the tributes to Nelson Mandela at a service of thanksgiving for the life of the former South African president.

The Most Rev Justin Welby will pay tribute to Mr Mandela at St Martin-in-the-Fields in London's Trafalgar Square this morning.

The service will feature a live link to Christ the King Church in Sophiatown in Johannesburg.

Former Poet Laureate Andrew Motion is due to read his poem, To Nelson Mandela: a tribute, during the service.

Watch: Nelson Mandela's family speak publicly about their loss

Rugby and football players paid their tributes to the former South African president Nelson Mandela ahead of Premier League games and Heineken Cup matches.

Mr Mandela died at the age of 95 on Thursday.

Mandela's compatriot, Ulster captain Johann Muller appeared very emotional during a minute's silence in memory of the late South African leader.

A minute's applause in honour of Nelson Mandela was held before Premier League football matches.

Read: World celebrates and mourns global icon Mandela

People have been bringing flowers and candles to the Nelson Mandela statue in Westminster Square in central London.

Number 10 has just announced that the Prime Minister has written to President Zuma and Mandela's widow Graca Machel to express his condolences.

“The PM paid tribute to Mandela's extraordinary grace and dignity and the example that he set not just to South Africa but to the world on his release from Robben Island," a Downing Street spokesman said.

"He said, 'he gave the world new hope that the deepest wounds can be healed and that freedom and reconciliation can triumph over division and hate'.

“The PM concluded 'He will forever have a distinguished place in history. It falls to all of us and future generations to learn from him and try to realise his extraordinary legacy'."

Read: Obama phones Mandela's widow to express sadness

A minute's applause has been held in honour of former South African president Nelson Mandela ahead of the Premier League game between Manchester United and Newcastle United.

The former South African president died at the of 95 on Thursday.

All Premier League and Scottish League games will pay a similar tribute this afternoon.

Read: Nelson Mandela's life celebrated on streets of Soweto

The Archbishop of York John Sentamu tweeted:

A minute's applause in honour of Nelson Mandela will be held before Premier League football matches this weekend, while the Scottish Professional Football League and the Football League have also encouraged that similar tributes take place.