Nelson Mandela's release from prison

16 June 1964: Eight men, among them Nelson Mandela, sentenced to life imprisonment in the Rivonia trial leave the Palace of Justice in Pretoria with their fists raised in defiance through the barred windows of the prison car. The men were accused of conspiracy, sabotage and treason Photograph: AFP Photograph: guardian.co.uk 1966: Mandela sews prison clothes in the yard of Robben Island prison Photograph: Express Newspapers/Hulton Archive/Getty Photograph: Express Newspapers/guardian.co.uk 1994: Mandela in his cell where he had been incarcerated for 27 years for opposition to the apartheid regime Photograph: David Turnley/Corbis Photograph: David Turnley/guardian.co.uk 11 February 1990: Mandela is accompanied by his wife, Winnie, moments after his release from Victor Verster prison in Western Cape. 'I was astounded and a little bit alarmed,' he recalled later. 'I truly had not expected such a scene. At most, I had imagined there would be several dozen people, mainly the warders and their families.' Photograph: Ulli Michel/Reuters Photograph: Ulli Michel/guardian.co.uk 11 February 1990: A jubilant Sowetan holds up a newspaper announcing Mandela's release at an African National Congress (ANC) rally in Soweto Photograph: Trevor Samson/AFP/Getty Photograph: Trevor Samson/guardian.co.uk 12 February 1990: People try to see Mandela giving an address one day after his release Photograph: Alexander Joe/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Alexander Joe/guardian.co.uk 12 February 1990: A boy waits outside Mandela's house in Soweto for his return Photograph: Peter Turnley/Corbis Photograph: Peter Turnley/guardian.co.uk 13 February 1990: Nelson and Winnie Mandela give black power salutes as they enter Soweto's Soccer City stadium. About 120,000 African National Congress (ANC) people packed the venue to hear his speech Photograph: Udo Weitz/AP Photograph: Udo Weitz/guardian.co.uk 13 February 1990: Mandela gives the black power salute during his speech to ANC supporters Photograph: AP Photograph: guardian.co.uk 20 February 1990: Mandela supporters surround a gate at a rally in Orlando stadium in Soweto Photograph: Scott Peterson/Getty Images Photograph: Scott Peterson/guardian.co.uk 26 February 1990: South Africans hold hands at a Durban rally celebrating the release of Mandela Photograph: Peter Turnley/Corbis Photograph: Peter Turnley/guardian.co.uk 2 March 1990: Mandela attends his first party meeting as a free man in Soweto Photograph: Sophie Elbaz/Sygma Photograph: Sophie Elbaz/guardian.co.uk