Nelson Mandela in critical condition as anxious nation waits

.cnn_html_media_utility before color red content '>>' font size 9px line height 12px padding right 1px .cnnstrylccimg640 margin 0 27px 14px 0 .captionText filter alpha(opacity 100) opacity 1 .cnn_html_slideshow_media_caption a .cnn_html_slideshow_media_caption a visited .cnn_html_slideshow_media_caption a link .captionText a .captionText a visited .captiontext a link color 004276 outline medium none .cnnVerticalGalleryPhoto margin 0 auto padding right 68px width 270px > Nelson Mandela now 94 endured 27 years in prison before becoming South Africa's first president from 1994 to 1999. Pictured Mandela in Mmabatho for an election rally on March 15 1994. Mandela married his second wife social worker Winnie Madikizela in 1958. At the time he was an active member of the African National Congress and had begun his lifelong commitment to ending segregation in South Africa. In 1964 Mandela was sentenced to life imprisonment for plotting to overthrow South Africa's apartheid regime. Here his wife Winnie leaves the courtroom after the verdict. Winnie Mandela addresses a crowd of supporters in Johannesburg in 1988 standing in front of a pile of cards addressed to her husband at an event marking his 70th birthday. She led an international campaign calling for his release. Nelson and Winnie Mandela raise their fists to salute a cheering crowd upon his 1990 release from Victor Verster Prison. He was still as upright and proud he would say as the day he walked into prison 27 years before. A jubilant South African holds up a newspaper announcing Mandela's release from prison at an ANC rally in Soweto on February 11 1990. Mandela attends a rally celebrating his release from jail at Soweto Soccer City stadium on February 13 1990. More than 100 000 people attended the event. Mandela and Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda arrive at an ANC rally on March 3 1990 in Lusaka Zambia. Mandela was elected president of the ANC the next year. After his release in 1990 Mandela embarked on a world tour meeting U.S. President George Bush at the White House in June. At his Soweto home on July 18 1990 Mandela blows out the candles on his 72nd birthday cake. It was the first birthday he celebrated as a free man since the 1960s. South African President Frederik de Klerk right and Mandela shared a Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 for their work to secure a peaceful transition from apartheid rule. An estimated 40 000 ANC supporters listen to Mandela's address during a 1994 rally ahead of South Africa's general election. Mandela was elected president in the first open election in South African history on April 29 1994. He's pictured here taking the oath at his inauguration in May becoming the nation's first black president. After one term as president Mandela stepped down. Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki at right was sworn in as his replacement in June 1999. Mandela was sent to the infamous Robben Island a prison five miles off the coast of South Africa where he would spend 18 of his 27 years behind bars. His cell is shown here in 2003. Mandela sits outside his former prison cell on Robben Island on November 28 2003 ahead of his AIDS benefit concert at Green Point Stadium in Cape Town. The 46664 Give One Minute of Your Life to AIDS concert was held on November 29 2003. 46664 was Mandela's identification number in prison. Mandela shows something to a group of international journalists visiting the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Johannesburg May 2004. Mandela welcomes a group of international journalists visiting the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Johannesburg in May 2004. Mandela throws a rose on the grave of his son Makgatho in Qunu on January 15 2005. He disclosed that his son had died of AIDS and said the disease should be given publicity so people would stop viewing it as extraordinary. The 46664 Arctic benefit concert was held in Tromso Norway on June 11 2005. Mandela is pictured here surrounded by artists who performed at the event. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton leans down to whisper to former South African President Nelson Mandela during a visit to the Nelson Mandela Foundation on July 19 2007 in Johannesburg. A bronze statue of Mandela was unveiled in Parliament Square in London on August 29 2007. The 9 foot statue faces the Houses of Parliament. Mandela poses with the Webb Ellis Cup during the Springboks rugby team's visit to his Johannesburg home on October 27 2007. South Africa became the holders of the cup after defeating England in the 2007 Rugby World Cup Final. Mandela leaves the InterContinental Hotel after a photoshoot with celebrity photographer Terry O'Neil on June 26 2008 in London England. Mandela celebrates his 90th birthday at a celebration in July 2008 in his rural village. Mandela meets in 2009 with international children as part of his 46664 Foundation named after the number he wore while imprisoned for 27 years. Mandela votes April 2009 in South Africa's fourth democratic election. South African defender Aaron Mokoena presents a jersey for the national team to Mandela when meeting before a semifinal match against Brazil June 2009. An inmate at the Groot Drakenstein Prison in February 2010 cleans the base of a bronze statue depicting Mandela walking to freedom in 1990. Mandela spent his final months of imprisonment in a private house at Groot Drakenstein. Nelson Mandela and his third wife Graca Machel arrive at the 2010 World Cup before the final match between Netherlands and Spain on July 11 2010 at Soccer City Stadium in Soweto. Surrounded by family members Mandela celebrates his 92nd birthday at his home in Johannesburg on July 18 2010. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton meets with Mandela 94 at his home in Qunu South Africa on August 6 2012. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33

(CNN) News crews and a few well wishers huddled early Monday on the cold streets outside the Pretoria hospital where former South African President Nelson Mandela is now in critical condition.

An anxious nation stood in vigil as well.

Over the weekend Mandela's health took a turn for the worse with the South African president's office saying Sunday that Mandgela was in critical condition.

He has been hospitalized in Pretoria since June 8 for a recurring lung infection. Previously authorities had described his condition as serious but stable.

The doctors are doing everything possible to get his condition to improve and are ensuring that Madiba is well looked after and is comfortable. He is in good hands President Jacob Zuma said Sunday in a written statement referring to Mandela's tribal name.

Daughter He is at peace Nelson Mandela in critical condition Mandela relatives lay claim The whole world prays for one man

Mandela 94 has become increasingly frail over the years and has not appeared in public since South Africa hosted the World Cup in 2010.

Outside the hospital a security wall was awash with get well cards balloons flowers cards and paintings the South African Press Association reported.

Ready for the spiritual realm

For Mandela's family these are very personal times times to be cherished as the end nears.

All we do every day is take one day at a time and pray to the good Lord Makaziwe told CNN's Robyn Curnow.

I believe he is at peace said Makaziwe Mandela who was born in 1953 to Mandela's first wife Evelyn.

All I pray for as a daughter is that the transition is smooth. ... He is at peace with himself. He has given so much to the world.

In and out of hospital

The anti apartheid hero has been in and out of the hospital in recent years.

His history of lung problems dates to when he was a political prisoner on Robben Island during the apartheid era and he has battled respiratory infections.

Considered the founding father of South Africa's democracy Mandela became an international figure while enduring 27 years in prison for fighting against apartheid the country's system of racial segregation.

South Africa's governing African National Congress noted with concern Sunday the change in Mandela's health.

The African National Congress joins the presidency in calling upon all of us to keep President Mandela his family and his medical team in our thoughts and prayers during this trying time it said.

A Nobel laureate

In 1993 Mandela and then South African President F.W. de Klerk jointly won the Nobel Peace Prize.

The iconic leader was elected the nation's first black president a year later serving only one term as he had promised.

Even as he has faded from the spotlight he remains popular and is considered a hero of democracy in the nation. Last year South Africa launched a new batch of banknotes with a picture of a smiling Mandela on the front.

Mandela's impact extends far beyond South African borders. After he left office he mediated conflicts in Africa and the Middle East.

Word of his worsening health drew global expressions of concern.

We have seen the latest reports from the South African government that former President Mandela is in critical condition Caitlin Hayden a U.S. National Security Council spokeswoman said in a statement. Our thoughts and prayers are with him his family and the people of South Africa.

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CNN's Faith Karimi Kim Norgaard and Dan Lothian contributed to this report.

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