I was moved by Bali service: Howard

I was moved by Bali service: Howard

AUSTRALIA: Australian Prime Minister John Howard said on Monday he was moved by the commemoration ceremonies for the Bali bombing anniversary, pointing out that many of the victims were young.

"Well, of course I was moved, most of them were young, their lives were just brutally torn apart, were destroyed," he said in a radio interview. "You'd be inhuman not to be moved, to actually see all of those photographs on that wall and they were all happy, young vibrant people.

"Most of them were young and it's always so tragic when parents have to bury their children."

Howard paid tribute to Indonesia's chief security minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who used the commemoration to speak out forcefully against terrorism.

"I thought he made some very impressive comments about terrorism. I thought it was a very strong statement and it's very reassuring that he did," Howard said.

Asked about suggestions that Australia might buy the Sari Club site for a memorial, Howard said the idea had been mooted but was not under serious consideration at the moment.

Indonesian law bans foreigners from owning land in Indonesia.

Howard left Bali on Monday to return to Australia. -- AFP