Australia in day of mourning for Bali victims

Australians have turned out in their thousands for memorial services paying tribute to compatriots killed in last week's terrorist…

Australians have turned out in their thousands for memorial services paying tribute to compatriots killed in last week's terrorist attack on the Indonesian island of Bali.

At least 180 people died and injured 300 others in the blast.

Bali is just a four-hour flight from some Australian cities and was a popular holiday spot. Officials say 103 Australians perished or are still missing since the terrorist attack.

Prime Minister Mr John Howard joined about 400 people at a service at St Paul's Anglican Cathedral in the capital, Canberra.

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Later, Mr Howard addressed thousands of mourners at an open-air service in Sydney via video message.

"Let us resolve to find those who committed this foul deed and bring them to justice," Mr Howard told the service, which also featured songs from popular Australian musicians.

Earlier, Mr Howard vowed that Australia would remain committed to the war on terror following the Bali bombing.

He was responding to an appeal from US Secretary of State Mr Colin Powell for Australia not to abandon the broader fight against terrorism despite the often bloody repercussions.

US President George W. Bush sent a special video message for the day of mourning, vowing to help Australia hunt down those who carried out the Bali bombing.

"Together we face an enemy which does not value innocent life," he said of the international terrorists suspected of carrying out the attack.

"And if any enemy which tries to terrorise the free world into inaction, they will fail.

"Together we will hunt down the killers so that there is justice in the world.

AFP