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The body of Nelson Mandela is being taken in procession to the Union Buildings in Pretoria where it will lie in state for three days. Each morning his remains will be transported from the mortuary to the government buildings. People are lining the route to form a "guard of honour". The public, as well as invited heads of state and international guests, will be able to view Mandela's body at the Union Buildings. The former South African president died last Thursday, aged 95. The country is observing a series of commemorations leading up to the funeral, which is being held in his home village of Qunu in Eastern Cape province on Sunday. Tens of thousands of South Africans joined scores of world leaders for a national memorial service on Monday. Procession Mr Mandela's remains will be transported daily from the city's 1 Military Hospital to the Union Buildings from Wednesday until Friday, the government has announced. "The public are encouraged to form a guard of honour by lining the streets," it said. The procession left the mortuary shortly after 07:00 (05:00 GMT) on Wednesday, travelling along Kgosi Mampuru Street and Madiba Street. The coffin could be seen inside a black hearse, draped in a South African flag. The Union Buildings are the official seat of the South African government. It is where Mr Mandela was sworn in as the country's first black president in 1994. At the memorial service on Monday, the current South African President, Jacob Zuma, announced he was renaming the Union Buildings the Mandela Amphitheatre. The Mandela family and selected VIP visitors will be able to view the body from 10:00 local time (08:00 GMT) on Wednesday. Members of the public can file past the casket from 12:00 to 17:30. The public will then be able to view the body from 08:00 to 17:30 on Thursday and Friday.