'I cannot imagine my life without the example of Madiba': Emotional Obama leads world's tributes

President Barack Obama paid an emotional tribute to his personal hero Nelson Mandela tonight, saying he could not imagine life without the former South African President.
Speaking shortly after the death of the civil rights leader was announced, Mr Obama said now is the time for people to pause and honor the fact 'that Nelson Mandela lived.
He said: 'Like so many around the globe, I cannot fully imagine my life without the example that Nelson Mandela set.'
'He no longer belongs to us - he belongs to the ages,' Mr Obama said from the White House briefing room.

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Mourning Madiba: President Barack Obama was one of the first world leaders to make a statement following Nelson Mandela's death

My inspiration: 'Like so many around the globe, I cannot fully imagine my life without the example that Nelson Mandela set,' Mr Obama said

'Madiba transformed South Africa and moved all of us- his journey from a prisoner to a president embodied the promise that humans can transform for the better.'

Gone: Mandela died today at the age of 95. His health took a turn earlier this summer

'He achieved more than could be expected for any man and today he's gone home.'

Mr Obama visited South Africa in June and met with the former president's family but did not personally meet with the ailing leader because his health was so poor at the time.
Mr Obama previously had a personal meeting when he was just a senator.
He said that the very first political action in his life, let alone his career, was his participation in an anti-apartheid rally held in Mandela's honor.
'We will not likely see the likes of Nelson Mandela again, so it falls to us' to live by his example and 'make decisions not by hate but by love,' Mr Obama said in the press conference.
He said that the thoughts and prayers of the first family and the American people were with Mr Mandela's family.
'His life's work meant long days away from those who loved him most,' saying that he hoped they were able to value the last few months together.
According to the White House, Mr Obama is expected to fly to Africa tonight to attend Mandela's state funeral along with other world leaders.

Mandela died after his health took a turn earlier this summer. He was 95 years old.

The Obama girls meet Mandela: Mrs Obama and her daughters met with Mandela on the first lady's first solo trip to Africa in June 2011

Visiting the jail: During a tour of Africa this summer, Mr Obama and his family visited Robben Island where Mandela spent decades as a political prisoner

Former South African president F.W. de Klerk, who was the last white president of the country before Mandela came to power, had nothing but praise for the 'father' of the country.
'He made reconciliation happen in South Africa,' Mr de Klerk told CNN
'There was an immediate I would say a spark between the two of us.
'I always respected him and I always liked him as a person he was a magnanimous person, he was a compassionate person.
Mandela's South African comrade Desmond Tutu, the first black Archbishop of Cape Town, wrote an article on his friend's passing, saying that the world was a better place because of Mandela.
'He was not only an amazing gift to humankind, he made South Africans and Africans feel good about being who we are. He made us walk tall,' Mr Tutu said.
Echoing Mr Obama's speech, all of the living U.S. presidents made statements of their own about Mandela.
Bill Clinton, who met with Mandela on a number of occasions and grew close with the elderly leader, released a statement on behalf of his family.

Pride of the world: Former President Bill Clinton visited an ailing Mandela earlier this year. The two are pictured above with former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair at Westminster Hall in July 2003

'Today the world has lost one of its most important leaders and one of the finest human beings,' who was 'a champion for human dignity'.
'He proved that there is freedom in forgiving, that a free heart is bigger than a closed mind.'
Mr Mandela came to America to attend President Clinton's inauguration in 1994 and Mr Clinton visited the ailing leader earlier this year.
Madeline Albright, Clinton's secretary of state, issued a statement of her own saying Mandela 'taught us all that forgiveness is stronger than hate. The best way to honor his passing is to follow his example'.