South Africa"s first black president and anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela has died at the age of 95.
Mr Mandela led South Africa"s transition from white-minority rule in the 1990s, after 27 years in prison for his political activities.
He had been receiving intensive medical care at home for a lung infection after spending three months in hospital.
Announcing the news on South African national TV, President Jacob Zuma said Mr Mandela was at peace.
"Our nation has lost its greatest son," Mr Zuma said. "Although we knew that this day would come, nothing can diminish our sense of a profound and enduring loss."
A crowd has gathered outside the house where Mr Mandela died. Some are flying South African flags and wearing the shirts of the governing African National Congress, which Mr Mandela once led.
The Nobel Peace Prize laureate was one of the world"s most revered statesmen after preaching reconciliation despite being imprisoned for 27 years.
He had rarely been seen in public since officially retiring in 2004. He made his last public appearance in 2010, at the football World Cup in South Africa.
His fellow campaigner against apartheid, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, said he was "not only an amazing gift to humankind, he made South Africans and Africans feel good about being who we are. He made us walk tall. God be praised."
BBC correspondents say Mr Mandela"s body will be moved to a mortuary in the capital, Pretoria, and the funeral is likely to take place next Saturday.
据外电报道，南非总统祖玛宣布，南非首位黑人总统、反种族隔离斗士、前总统曼德拉去世，享年95岁。祖玛在国家电视台讲话中表示，曼德拉在平静中离开，“我们的国家失去了她最伟大的儿子”。
祖马同时宣布，南非将为曼德拉举行国葬。全国将从12月6日起降半旗致哀，直至国葬结束。
联合国秘书长潘基文5日发表声明，对于曼德拉的逝世表示哀悼。潘基文在声明当中高度评价了曼德拉的一生，把他称作是世界舞台上一位非凡的人物，是一位“正 义的巨人”。美国总统奥巴马5日也在白宫发表电视讲话悼念曼德拉，称“我们失去了地球上最有影响力、最勇敢、最好的一个人”。
