Nelson Mandela memorial: Snipers, troops stand guard

Michael Pearson, CNN
5 minute read
Published 4:06 AM EST, Mon December 9, 2013
Mourners sing outside the home of former South African President Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg on Monday, December 9. The revered statesman, who emerged from prison to lead South Africa out of apartheid, died on Thursday, December 5. Mandela was 95.
World reacts to Mandela's death —
Mourners sing outside the home of former South African President Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg on Monday, December 9. The revered statesman, who emerged from prison to lead South Africa out of apartheid, died on Thursday, December 5. Mandela was 95.
Themba Hadebe/AP
A groundskeeper collects flowers left by visitors at Mandela's home in Johannesburg on December 9.
World reacts to Mandela's death —
A groundskeeper collects flowers left by visitors at Mandela's home in Johannesburg on December 9.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
A child checks out at a sculpture of Mandela by Marco Cianfanelli near Howick, South Africa, on December 9.
World reacts to Mandela's death —
A child checks out at a sculpture of Mandela by Marco Cianfanelli near Howick, South Africa, on December 9.
John Robinson/AP
A mourner prays on a hill overlooking Johannesburg on Sunday, December 8.
World reacts to Mandela's death —
A mourner prays on a hill overlooking Johannesburg on Sunday, December 8.
Bernat Armangue/AP
Young choir members attend a morning Mass on December 8 in memory of Mandela at the Regina Mundi Catholic Church, one of the focal points of the anti-apartheid struggle, in the Soweto district of Johannesburg. South Africans flocked to houses of worship for a national day of prayer and reflection to honor Mandela.
World reacts to Mandela's death —
Young choir members attend a morning Mass on December 8 in memory of Mandela at the Regina Mundi Catholic Church, one of the focal points of the anti-apartheid struggle, in the Soweto district of Johannesburg. South Africans flocked to houses of worship for a national day of prayer and reflection to honor Mandela.
Ben Curtis/AP
A South African flag flies at half-staff to honor Mandela on December 8 at the South African High Commission in London's Trafalgar Square.
World reacts to Mandela's death —
A South African flag flies at half-staff to honor Mandela on December 8 at the South African High Commission in London's Trafalgar Square.
Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP
A choir sings hymns during a special service in the honor of Mandela on December 8 at the Holy Family Church in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Palestinians mourned Mandela as a loyal champion of their cause.
World reacts to Mandela's death —
A choir sings hymns during a special service in the honor of Mandela on December 8 at the Holy Family Church in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Palestinians mourned Mandela as a loyal champion of their cause.
Nasser Nasser/AP
Doves are released for Mandela at the Grand Parade in Cape Town, South Africa, on December 8.
World reacts to Mandela's death —
Doves are released for Mandela at the Grand Parade in Cape Town, South Africa, on December 8.
Nardus Engelbrecht/AP
A program is illuminated by the morning sunlight during a service held to honor Mandela on December 8 at First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Los Angeles.
World reacts to Mandela's death —
A program is illuminated by the morning sunlight during a service held to honor Mandela on December 8 at First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Los Angeles.
Jae C. Hong/AP
Areva Martin sings during the service at First A.M.E. Church on December 8.
World reacts to Mandela's death —
Areva Martin sings during the service at First A.M.E. Church on December 8.
Jae C. Hong/AP
A portrait of Mandela is projected onto city hall in Paris on December 8.
World reacts to Mandela's death —
A portrait of Mandela is projected onto city hall in Paris on December 8.
MARTIN BUREAU/AFP/Getty Images
Children in a drum majors group perform a dance outside Mandela's old house on Saturday, December 7.
World reacts to Mandela's death —
Children in a drum majors group perform a dance outside Mandela's old house on Saturday, December 7.
Ben Curtis/AP
Mourners gather in front of the South African embassy in Tehran, Iran, to pay their respects on December 7.
World reacts to Mandela's death —
Mourners gather in front of the South African embassy in Tehran, Iran, to pay their respects on December 7.
Majid Saeedi/Getty Images
Crowds of people pay tribute to Mandela outside his Johannesburg home on December 7.
World reacts to Mandela's death —
Crowds of people pay tribute to Mandela outside his Johannesburg home on December 7.
Brent Stirton/Getty Images
Christians mourning the loss of Mandela say prayers on a hilltop overlooking Johannesburg on December 7.
World reacts to Mandela's death —
Christians mourning the loss of Mandela say prayers on a hilltop overlooking Johannesburg on December 7.
Brent Stirton/Getty Images
A woman prays at the Central Methodist Church as people remember Mandela on Friday, December 6, in Cape Town, South Africa.
World reacts to Mandela's death —
A woman prays at the Central Methodist Church as people remember Mandela on Friday, December 6, in Cape Town, South Africa.
Michelly Rall/Getty Images
The South African flag is flown at half-staff at the Union Buildings on December 6 in Pretoria, South Africa.
World reacts to Mandela's death —
The South African flag is flown at half-staff at the Union Buildings on December 6 in Pretoria, South Africa.
Gallo Images/Getty Images
Delegates from countries all over the world stand for a moment of silence for Mandela on December 6 during the drawing ceremony for the 2014 World Cup in Costa do Sauipe, Brazil.
World reacts to Mandela's death —
Delegates from countries all over the world stand for a moment of silence for Mandela on December 6 during the drawing ceremony for the 2014 World Cup in Costa do Sauipe, Brazil.
Victor R. Caivano/AP
Mandela is honored at the the Grammy Nominations concert at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on December 6.
World reacts to Mandela's death —
Mandela is honored at the the Grammy Nominations concert at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on December 6.
ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images
A woman cleans up outside the South African Embassy in Beijing where portraits of Mandela and flowers offered by people are placed on December 6.
World reacts to Mandela's death —
A woman cleans up outside the South African Embassy in Beijing where portraits of Mandela and flowers offered by people are placed on December 6.
Andy Wong/ap
European Union flags fly at half-staff at the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on December 6.
World reacts to Mandela's death —
European Union flags fly at half-staff at the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on December 6.
Geert Vanden Wijngaert/AP
Newspapers with Mandela on the front page are on sale in London on December 6.
World reacts to Mandela's death —
Newspapers with Mandela on the front page are on sale in London on December 6.
Sang Tan/AP
Early morning commuters stand in silence beside a statue of Mandela on December 6 in Parliament Square in London.
World reacts to Mandela's death —
Early morning commuters stand in silence beside a statue of Mandela on December 6 in Parliament Square in London.
Alastair Grant/AP
British Prime Minister David Cameron signs the book of condolence at the South African Embassy in central London following the announcement of Mandela's death.
World reacts to Mandela's death —
British Prime Minister David Cameron signs the book of condolence at the South African Embassy in central London following the announcement of Mandela's death.
PA PHOTOS /LANDOV
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden pays a silent tribute to Mandela before his speech on December 6 at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea.
World reacts to Mandela's death —
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden pays a silent tribute to Mandela before his speech on December 6 at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea.
Lee Jin-man/ap
An American flag flies at half-staff above the White House in Washington on December 6.
World reacts to Mandela's death —
An American flag flies at half-staff above the White House in Washington on December 6.
Erkan Avci/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Australian and English cricket fans in Adelaide, Australia, observe a minute of silence December 6, to mark the passing of Nelson Mandela.
World reacts to Mandela's death —
Australian and English cricket fans in Adelaide, Australia, observe a minute of silence December 6, to mark the passing of Nelson Mandela.
WILLIAM WEST/AFP/Getty Images
A woman cries outside Mandela's house in Johannesburg after Mandela's death on Thursday, December 5.
World reacts to Mandela's death —
A woman cries outside Mandela's house in Johannesburg after Mandela's death on Thursday, December 5.
ALEXANDER JOE/AFP/Getty Images
South Africans sing as they pay tribute to Mandela in Johannesburg on December 5.
World reacts to Mandela's death —
South Africans sing as they pay tribute to Mandela in Johannesburg on December 5.
ALEXANDER JOE/AFP/Getty Images
U.S. President Barack Obama pauses as he speaks about Mandela in the briefing room of the White House on Thursday, December 5. Obama said he was one of the "countless millions" who drew inspirations from Mandela's life.
World reacts to Mandela's death —
U.S. President Barack Obama pauses as he speaks about Mandela in the briefing room of the White House on Thursday, December 5. Obama said he was one of the "countless millions" who drew inspirations from Mandela's life.
Carolyn Kaster/AP
The marquee at New York's Apollo Theater honors Mandela on December 5.
World reacts to Mandela's death —
The marquee at New York's Apollo Theater honors Mandela on December 5.
John Minchillo/AP
An artist who goes by the name Franco the Great stands beneath a Mandela mural that he painted in New York's Harlem neighborhood more than 15 years ago. He later added Obama to the mural.
World reacts to Mandela's death —
An artist who goes by the name Franco the Great stands beneath a Mandela mural that he painted in New York's Harlem neighborhood more than 15 years ago. He later added Obama to the mural.
John Minchillo/AP
Keaton Anderson, 10, poses for a photograph while he and his father visit Mandela's statue at the South African Embassy in Washington on December 5. The statue is under renovation.
World reacts to Mandela's death —
Keaton Anderson, 10, poses for a photograph while he and his father visit Mandela's statue at the South African Embassy in Washington on December 5. The statue is under renovation.
Charles Dharapak/AP