Memorial to Bali victims unveiled

Memorial to Bali victims unveiled

AUSTRALIA: Clutching single red roses and photos of loved ones, survivors of the Bali bombings and scores of relatives gathered in the national capital on Thursday to honor victims of one of the worst peacetime disasters to hit Australian citizens.

In a secluded garden of the national parliament, Prime Minister John Howard unveiled a memorial to the 91 Australian citizens and residents among the 202 killed on Oct. 12 last year when Indonesian terrorists blew up two nightclubs on Jl. Legian, Kuta, Bali.

"Through this location and placement, we hope as a nation in a symbolic way to honor those who died in these tragic circumstances," he told about 550 grieving victims and relatives.

After Howard laid a wreath on the memorial and released 12 white doves into the sky, relatives and victims filed past the memorial in silence, tears streaming down many faces.

Flags at the national parliament were lowered to half-mast to mark the occasion, while a memorial service was held in the building. -- Reuters