World mourns 'anti-apartheid hero' Nelson Mnadela

World leaders are mourning the anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela's death, whose soul departed peacefully last night at his home following complications from the recurring lung infection.

South African President Jacob Zuma announced Mandela's death, saying that the nation has lost its greatest son and several have lost a father, Fox News reports.

Zuma said that Mandela will be accorded a full state funeral, the report added.

President Barack Obama called him one of the "most influential, courageous and profoundly good" people to ever have lived.

Obama also ordered the U.S. flags to be lowered immediately to half staff until Monday evening in a tribute to Mandela.

Mandela had spent nearly three months in a Pretoria hospital with a recurring lung infection, and was shifted to his home in September with all intensive care facilities made available to him.

Mandela had spent 27 years as a prisoner in South Africa for opposing apartheid, and then emerged to become his country's first black president.

He was bestowed with the Nobel Peace Prize and he became an enduring symbol of integrity, principle and resilience.

Mandela had retired from public life in 2004 after being in increasingly frail health from past several years.

He is survived by his third wife, Graca Machel, three daughters and multiple grandchildren and great-grandchildren, the report added.