[00:00.10]From VOA Learning English,
[00:11.90]this is In The News.
[00:13.90]People around the world are remembering Nelson Mandela,
[00:18.25]South Africa's first black president.
[00:22.05]He died Thursday at the age of 95.
[00:25.82]South African President Jacob Zuma said
[00:29.58]the nation "has lost its greatest son,
[00:32.83]and our people have lost a father."
[00:36.39]Mandela had been in poor health for several years.
[00:41.68]He was repeatedly treated in hospitals,
[00:45.34]most recently for a lung infection.
[00:48.35]He became infected with tuberculosis many years ago while in prison.
[00:55.25]Nelson Mandela was the main leader
[00:58.66]in efforts to end white minority rule in South Africa.
[01:03.46]He spent 27 years in prison for his part in fighting apartheid
[01:08.96]-- the nation's policy of discrimination against blacks.
[01:12.91]Many world leaders, past and present,
[01:16.82]are remembering Nelson Mandela.
[01:19.20]Frederick W. de Klerk was South Africa's last apartheid leader.
[01:24.36]He freed Mandela from prison in 1990.
[01:29.11]Later, the two men won the Nobel Peace Prize.
[01:33.86]Mr. de Klerk said people will remember Mandela
[01:38.01]for the importance he placed on reconciliation
[01:41.41]-- being able to reach a settlement between conflicting sides.
[01:46.60]He said their relationship was, in his words, "often stormy,"
[01:52.52]but he said they were "always able to come together at critical moments."
[01:58.32]South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu
[02:02.03]was active in the struggle to end apartheid.
[02:05.39]He also was a friend of Nelson Mandela.
[02:09.02]He praised Mandela for his actions and statements
[02:13.71]after he was released from prison.
[02:16.50]Archbishop Tutu said instead of "calling for his pound of flesh,
[02:22.27]he proclaimed the message of forgiveness and reconciliation."
[02:28.12]In the United States, President Barack Obama
[02:32.88]called Mandela an influential,
[02:35.42]brave and profoundly good human being.
[02:39.67]Mr. Obama said Mandela will be remembered
[02:43.48]for leaving a free South Africa at peace.
[02:47.23]"I am one of the countless millions who drew inspiration
[02:50.14]from Nelson Mandela's life.
[02:51.59]My very first political action
[02:55.44]-- the first thing I ever did that involved an issue,
[03:01.14]or a policy, or politics -- was a protest against apartheid.
[03:05.10]I would study his words and his writings.
[03:09.99]The day he was released from prison
[03:13.55]gave me a sense of what human beings can do
[03:16.89]when they're guided by their hopes and not by their fears."
[03:19.34]President Obama said flags at the White House
[03:22.74]and other government buildings will be lowered through Monday
[03:27.25]in honor of Nelson Mandela.
[03:29.55]Few foreign leaders are honored by the United States in this way.
[03:34.81]Former presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton
[03:39.50]and George W. Bush also praised Mandela
[03:43.41]as a champion of freedom, human dignity and equality.
[03:48.81]Another former president -- George H.W. Bush
[03:53.52]-- called Mandela "a man of tremendous moral courage"
[03:58.57]who changed the direction of history in his country.
[04:02.23]In London, British Prime Minister David Cameron
[04:06.43]called Mandela a true global hero.
[04:10.48]In his words, a great light has gone out in the world.
[04:15.70]Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Mandela,
[04:20.26]"one of the most honorable figures of our time."
[04:24.15]Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called him
[04:28.06]"a symbol of freedom from colonialism and occupation."
[04:32.81]He called Mr. Mandela's death "a great loss."
[04:37.31]And that's In The News, from VOA Learning English.
[04:42.47]I'm Christopher Cruise.