Thousands mourn Bali dead at London service

Thousands mourn Bali dead at London service

Agencies, London

Queen Elizabeth joined thousands of mourners who packed St. Paul's Cathedral in central London on Friday at a memorial service for the victims of the Bali bomb.

More than 180 people, mostly young Australians, were killed when the bomb blew apart a busy nightclub in the tourist resort on the Indonesian island on Oct. 12. Eleven Britons were also killed in the blast.

"For the Australians in particular, the last 13 days have been a dark night of the soul," Australian Ambassador Michael L'Estrange told the crowded cathedral, in words relayed to throngs outside.

"People do want to move forward..., but at the same time there is a great sense of anger as well," he later told Reuters.

Outgoing Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey told the multi- faith service -- also attended by the Duke of Edinburgh and heir to the throne Prince Charles -- the world felt pain along with the bereaved but had to keep to the path of peace.

"Of course the road of peace is long and demanding, but it is the only road worth travelling," he said. "We grieve too with the great nation of Australia, whose burden of loss is so appalling."

But in an upbeat note, he concluded with a reference to the Australian passion for surfing: "We too must ride the great waves that batter our world unafraid."

Outside, Australian flags were draped over police crush barriers as the mourners shared their grief and anger silently.

"Australians definitely lost an innocence. We always felt quite safe travelling on an Australian passport. We always felt...out of the limelight," said Mike Bryant, a Sydney native in his 20s who lives in London.

"We have got to keep our love of life and love of adventure, otherwise the other people get what they want," added Bryant, whose second cousin was killed in the blast.

In fact, he said he is about to set off travelling through Asia.

Early in the service Russell Ward, a British fireman who had been on holiday on Bali during the attack and immediately rushed to help with the victims, lit a candle of remembrance.

The first memorial candle at the cathedral was lit as the choir burst into an emotional rendition of "Peace, Perfect Peace".

Saint Paul's held a moving memorial service, attended by 2,000 people, to mark the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks on the United States.