Moments after South African President Jacob Zuma read the news...br br (SOUNDBITE) (English) SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT, JACOB ZUMA, SAYING:br br "Fellow South Africans, our beloved Nelson Rohlihla Mandela, the founding President of our democratic nation has departed."br br The world began to mourn.br br At the White House, the flag was lowered to half staff.br br Inside, U.S. President Barack Obama praised Mandela for his legacy of freedom and peace.br br (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SAYING:br br "Nelson Mandela lived for that ideal and he made it real. He achieved more than could be expected of any man. Today he has gone home. And we have lost one of the most influential, courageous and good human beings that any of us will share time with on this earth. He no longer belongs to us, he belongs to the ages."br br Mandela died at the age of 95 on Thursday after months of fighting a lung infection.