Obama: Mandela earned a place in history

Celebrating one of his personal heroes, president Barack Obama has praised Nelson Mandela as the last great liberator of the 20th century, urging the world to carry on his legacy by fighting inequality, poverty and discrimination.

At the Johannesburg memorial service Mr Obama compared the former South African President to Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King and Abraham Lincoln. He said Mr Mandela had earned his place in history through struggle, shrewdness, persistence and faith.