'A giant of history': Obama's rousing tribute to Mandela as world leaders

'A giant of history': Obama's rousing tribute to Mandela as world leaders join Hollywood stars and supermodels at memorial service in Soweto... but why were there so many empty seats?

Eulogy: U.S. President Barack Obama acknowledges the crowd as he delivers his speech at the memorial service for Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg

• Hundreds of world leaders gather in Johannesburg's FNB Stadium for Nelson Mandela's memorial service
• Barack Obama paid tribute to anti-apartheid icon, saying 'We will never see the likes of Nelson Mandela again'
• Shook hands with Cuba's Raul Castro on his way to the podium in historic gesture of reconciliation
• He was joined by ex-Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter at the ceremony
• David Cameron, Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband were there along with every living former Prime Minister of the UK
• Ceremony started an hour late in pouring rain as leader said 'the gods are welcoming Mandela to heaven'
• But 95,000-seater stadium was around a third empty as many well-wishers were apparently deterred by weather
• South African president Jacob Zuma repeatedly booed by the crowd while Obama and Robert Mugabe are cheered
  

  Eulogy: U.S. President Barack Obama delivers his speech at the memorial service for Nelson Mandela at the FNB soccer stadium in Johannesburg

Barack Obama today paid an emotional tribute to Nelson Mandela, calling the South African leader a 'giant of history' as he spoke at a memorial service in a stadium where around a third of the seats were mysteriously left empty.
The U.S. President, who moments earlier had shaken hands with Cuba's Raul Castro in a historic moment of reconciliation, receivied a rapturous reception for his eulogy at the service in Johannesburg's FNB Stadium, which started an hour late in the pouring rain.
Cyril Ramaphosa, the deputy president of the ruling ANC party who opened the proceedings, said: 'In our tradition, when it rains when you are buried, your gods are welcoming you to heaven.'
Mr Obama arrived almost an hour after the ceremony started, but was greeted with prolonged applause by the crowd - in stark contrast to South African president Jacob Zuma, who was loudly booed whenever he appeared on the stadium's big screen.
When Mr Zuma walked up to the podium to deliver the keynote speech at the ceremony, he was met with a huge chorus of boos, forcing organisers to bring in a choir to drown out the noise of the crowd and save the president's blushes.
Scroll down for a live stream of the ceremony

Fitting setting: A general view of the arena which was the location of Mr Mandela's first speech in Johannesburg after he was released from prison in 1990

Rare display of unity: President Obama shakes hands with Cuban leader Raul Castro in spite of the animosity between them

Historic: The handshake between the leaders of the two Cold War enemies came during a ceremony that focused on Mandela's legacy of reconciliation

Giving his condolences: President Obama kisses Nelson Mandela's widow Graca Machel during the memorial service

'His triumph was your triumph': President Barrack Obama is shown on a big screen as he delivers his eulogy to flag-waving and umbrella-holding mourners

Mutual respect: President Obama speaks to Nelson Mandela's widow Graca Machel during the memorial service

Mr Obama opened his speech by thanking Mandela's family, then continued: 'To the people of South Africa - people of every race and walk of life - the world thanks you for sharing Nelson Mandela with us.

'His struggle was your struggle. His triumph was your triumph. Your dignity and hope found expression in his life, and your freedom, your democracy is his cherished legacy.'