Three ex-PMs to join Cameron at Mandela memorial

Fellow Nobel Peace Prize winner Desmond Tutu will lead a tribute evening to Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg this evening.

The tribute evening, organised by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, will be addressed by the former Archbishop of Cape Town, and will hear songs from the Soweto Gospel Choir.

Watch: Desmond Tutu: 'Thank you for the gift of Madiba'

As part of tributes in Parliament for Nelson Mandela, Labour leader Ed Miliband said the former South African leader was an "enduring symbol of courage, hope and the fight against injustice".

Mr Miliband said: "Today we remember the incomparable life of Nelson Mandela.

"He is an enduring symbol of courage, hope and the fight against injustice. He teaches us the power of forgiveness, showing no bitterness towards his captors, just the love of a country which could be so much better if all of its people could be free."

Prime Minister David Cameron has opened tributes in Parliament recognising the legacy of the former South African President Nelson Mandela.

He said: "Nelson Mandela was a towering figure in our lifetime, a pivotal figure in the history of South Africa and the world, and it's right that we meet in this Parliament to pay tribute to his character, his achievements, and his legacy."

Prime Minister David Cameron has described the former South African president Nelson Mandela as an "heroic figure in world history".

Mr Cameron said: "I think it's very important to mark the passing of an absolutely heroic figure in world history, someone who has given us extraordinary lessons to learn and to live by.

"I'm sure Parliament will rise to the occasion and will reflect the concerns right across this country that we've lost an incredible hero who did a brilliant thing for our world.

"I will be flying to South Africa with other heads of government and heads of state, to be there. I think its very important to pay our respects, to mark this moment, and to say goodbye to a remarkable man."

Read: Three previous UK PMs to join Cameron at Mandela memorial

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has written about Nelson Mandela's legacy of human rights in a book of condolence to mark the passing of the former South African president.

Read: Three previous UK PMs to join Cameron at Mandela memorial

Three previous Prime Ministers - Sir John Major, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown - are to join current PM David Cameron at the memorial ceremony for Nelson Mandela in South Africa tomorrow, Downing Street said.

The Dalai Lama will not attend memorial services for fellow Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nelson Mandela in South Africa.

The Buddhist spiritual leader has twice been unable to obtain a visa.

His spokesman Tenzin Takhla gave no reason on Monday for the Dalai Lama's missing a memorial service in Johannesburg and funeral in Mandela's hometown.

Mr Takhla said only that "logistically it's impossible at this time."

Read: More than 50 heads of state to attend Mandela memorial

Security for the event is likely to be tight, as some of the world's most powerful people will be attending. Confirmed, so far, for Tuesday's memorial service:

• US President Obama and Mrs Obama
• Former US presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter
• UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon
• Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan
• Prime Minister David Cameron
• French President Francois Hollande and predecessor Nicolas Sarkozy
• German president Joachim Gauck

• Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper, and three predecessors
• Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy and Prince Felipe
• Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff and three predecessors
• Indian president Pranab Mukherjee
• Australian prime minister Tony Abbott
• The Netherlands' foreign minister Frans Timmermans

• Danish prime minster Helle Thorning-Schmidt
• Norwegian prime minister Erna Solberg and Crown Prince Haakon
• European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso
• Haiti's prime minister Madhav Prasad Ghimire
• Sri Lanka's president Abdul Hamid
• Former Irish head of state Mary Robinson

So, far 53 heads of state from across the globe have confirmed they will attend the memorial service for Nelson Mandela, due to be held on Tuesday in Johannesburg. This number is expected to rise.

Read: FNB Stadium to host Nelson Mandela memorial tribute

• 13 heads of African states will be at the funeral
• 15 heads of state will travel from other continents

• From the US, President and Mrs Obama will be accompanied by three former Presidents, Carter, Bush (George W), Clinton and their partners.
• 26 members of the US Congress will also attend

• Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff will be accompanied by four former Heads of State: Presidents Sarney, Cardoso, and Lula da Silva

Some of the heads of state will speak at the service. After the service a new statue will be unveiled.