Former U.S. President Bill Clinton fondly remembered his "friend" Nelson Mandela on Friday, just one day after South Africa's leader died at 95.
"He was a very, very effective president. He knew his ability to inspire people around the world would only endure if he could prove that there was not only freedom and forgiveness, but that it worked better for society. That when people work together, good things happen."
While President Obama announced he will also be flying next week to South Africa with former President George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush were among the high-level guests, Clinton will be flying from Brazil.
"The former president indicated his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, will also attend the funeral but did not give details of when she will fly to South Africa or whether she will fly on Air Force One," according to Fox News.
"Mandela taught us that in order to be trusted, you have to trust and you have to be prepared to be disappointed. It's, it's a choice you make to be free of anger and animosity and resentment. And it's a choice you have to make and work on every day," Clinton said in a Fox News interview.
"We will not likely see the likes of Nelson Mandela again. So it falls to us as best we can to forward the example that he set," said President Obama.
"My heart goes out to his family, and to all in South Africa and around the world whose lives were changed through his courage," added British Prime Minister David Cameron in a statement.
Francois Hollande, who had been hosting summit of African leaders in Paris on Friday said Mandela "showed that the human spirit not only can break the chains of servitude, but can liberate energies to build a common future," the French leader said.
"Mandela traversed great hardships and trials, but remained true to the noble ideals of humanism and justice right to the end," added Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Morgan Freeman portrayed Mandela in Clint Eastwood's 'Invictus,' the story of South Africa's 1995 hosting of the Rugby World Cup.
"The world lost one of the true giants of the past century," said Freeman.
"As we remember his triumphs, let us, in his memory, not just reflect on how far we've come, but on how far we have to go," the 76-year-old added.
