New Delhi, Dec 6 (IANS): The union cabinet Friday condoled the death of Nelson Mandela and decided to observe five-day national mourning as a mark of respect for the South African leader, informed sources said.
The cabinet held an emergency meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Parliament House and condoled the passing away of Mandela.
The Congress Working Committee, the highest decision-making body of the ruling Congress, is also meeting in the evening at party chief Sonia Gandhi's official residence to condole the passing away of Nobel laureate Mandela, the sources said.
Earlier, parliamentarians paid tributes to the great leader, after which both houses were adjourned.
The world learned of the death of South Africa's first black president and anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela through an announcement late Thursday by the country's president, Jacob Zuma.
The Nobel laureate was 95.