Pakistani president leaves for South Africa to attend Mandela's funeral

Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain left for South Africa on Monday to attend the funeral of Nelson Mandela who died on Thursday at the age of 95, state television said. Mandela's state funeral on Dec. 15 is set to be the biggest the world has ever seen. Ten days of mourning have already been declared following the death of the Nobel laureate. Fifty-nine foreign heads of state or government have said so far they will attend either the memorial ceremony or the state funeral of Mandela in South Africa, according to a foreign ministry spokesman of South Africa. Mandela twice visited Pakistan and during his second visit he addressed the joint sitting of the Pakistani parliament. He was well respected in Pakistan for his struggle against the apartheid. Pakistan's parliament was adjourned on Friday to pay respect to Mandela.