Australian Prime Minister John Howard has called a national day of mourning for next Sunday as the nation's death toll from the bomb attacks in Bali rises.
Officially, 14 Australians have been identified among the dead, but numerous others have been found in Bali morgues by friends and relatives.
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Australian consular and medical authorities struggled to treat scores of injured Australians and determine how many of the at least 190 killed were from the country. Officials said some 200 Australians remained unaccounted for.
Speaking to parliament, Mr Howard said he was sending Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, Justice Minister Chris Ellison and top security officials for urgent talks with their Indonesian counterparts.
"Their mission will be to maximise co-operation between Australia and Indonesia in pursuit of the murderers," he said.
Australian officials expressed frustration that the government in Jakarta had been unwilling or unable to clamp down on Islamic militant groups, notably one called Jemmah Islamayah, that have links to the al-Qaeda network and are prime suspects in the Bali bombing.
Mr Howard said: "We are prepared to help, the Americans are prepared to help, the British have offered assistance; we will give any help that can usefully assist Indonesia in dealing with the terrorist problem".
Calling the bombing "Australia's blackest day since World War II," opposition Labor Party leader Mr Simon Crean insisted Indonesia be held to account.
AFP