Nelson Mandela's coffin, draped in the multi-coloured South African flag, has arrived at the seat of power in the country's capital for public viewing.

Motorcycle-riding police officers escorted the coffin from 1 Military Hospital outside Pretoria to the Union Buildings.

Pretoria residents lined the streets to watch the procession go by, singing tributes to Mr Mandela, who died on December 5 at the age of 95.

His body will lie in state for three days in Pretoria, before being flown to Qunu, his home in the Eastern Cape Province. He will be buried on Sunday.

Soldiers in formal uniforms carried the coffin into the Union Buildings to a special viewing centre built inside the building's amphitheatre, which President Jacob Zuma named after Mr Mandela by decree yesterday.

Mandela family members, government officials and world leaders are expected to pass by the coffin.

Each day, Mr Mandela's coffin will be driven back to 1 Military Hospital to be held overnight.

Mr Mandela's body will be flown on Saturday to Qunu, his home in the Eastern Cape Province.

Yesterday, world leaders including President Barack Obama, eulogised Mr Mandela. In his speech, Mr Obama called Mr Mandela "the last great liberator of the 20th century".

"We will never see the likes of Nelson Mandela again," Mr Obama said. "But let me say to the young people of Africa, and young people around the world - you can make his life's work your own."

Mr Mandela's grandson Mandla and Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula led mourners into the viewing area. After coffin bearers left, four junior officers in white uniform from the South African navy remained to keep watch over the body, rotating position every hour.

"I just hope I won't cry," said Paul Letageng, 47, an employee of the seat of government who wore a grey suit and black tie said. "It's amazing to think that 19 years ago he was inaugurated there, and now he's lying there. If he was not here we would not have had peace in South Africa."