Mandela to have 12-day state memorial and Obama, Clinton and Cameron are expected to attend service

Elaborate funeral plans have been set in motion in South Africa following the death of the country’s revered first black president Nelson Mandela.
The 12-day state memorial is expected to be an unparalleled event in South Africa’s history, drawing a plethora of foreign dignitaries of every stripe, royals and a smattering of celebrities.
South African President Jacob Zuma ordered the nation’s flags to be flown at half-mast beginning Friday and to remain that way until after Mandela’s funeral, which is expected to be held next Saturday.
The protocol for the funeral preparations was drawn up more than a year ago, around the time when Mr Mandela’s health took a turn for the worse, and it may be altered in the coming days.
Mourners will be able to share their thoughts about Mandela’s passing in condolence books that will be made available in all foreign missions, the Nelson Mandela Foundation headquarters and other institutions, according to The Guardian, which has obtained a copy of the protocol.

It has also been reported that the South African Government is in talks with the BBC team that filmed the Royal Wedding in 2011 to get help with the world wide broadcast of the funeral of a global icon.
Guests at the funeral will include Mr Obama, the first lady and their daughters. Bill and Hillary Clinton, who knew Mr Mandela well, are also expected to make an appearance.
The scale and significance of the planned funeral is already being compared to the 2005 service for Pope John Paul II, which was attended by 2million people, among them five kings and 70 presidents….