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| Vow to rebuild fire-hit Australia | Vow to rebuild fire-hit Australia |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has vowed his country would rally after the worst bushfires in its history. | Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has vowed his country would rally after the worst bushfires in its history. |
| Mr Rudd told MPs that areas devastated by bushfires would be rebuilt "brick by brick" and "school by school". | Mr Rudd told MPs that areas devastated by bushfires would be rebuilt "brick by brick" and "school by school". |
| A police task force has been launched to investigate the cause of bushfires that have swept across southern Australia killing at least 173 people. | A police task force has been launched to investigate the cause of bushfires that have swept across southern Australia killing at least 173 people. |
| Police are treating some blazes as arson. Mr Rudd described them as "murder on a grand scale". | Police are treating some blazes as arson. Mr Rudd described them as "murder on a grand scale". |
| "We are left speechless at the thought and the possibility that some of these fires may have been deliberately lit," he told the Canberra parliament. | "We are left speechless at the thought and the possibility that some of these fires may have been deliberately lit," he told the Canberra parliament. |
| "Let us attend to this unfinished business of the nation and come to grips with this evil thing." | "Let us attend to this unfinished business of the nation and come to grips with this evil thing." |
| Mr Rudd told the Australian Parliament the people of Victoria were "not alone in this disaster" | Mr Rudd told the Australian Parliament the people of Victoria were "not alone in this disaster" |
| Some 500 people have been injured and nearly 10,000 homes destroyed across 365,000 hectares of torched land, said Mr Rudd. | Some 500 people have been injured and nearly 10,000 homes destroyed across 365,000 hectares of torched land, said Mr Rudd. |
| Rescuers are searching scorched areas amid fears the death toll would rise. | Rescuers are searching scorched areas amid fears the death toll would rise. |
| Residents in parts of Victoria state are still on alert as more than a dozen fires continue to burn uncontrolled. | Residents in parts of Victoria state are still on alert as more than a dozen fires continue to burn uncontrolled. |
| Despite cooler conditions than at the weekend, officials in Victoria have warned residents to watch out for embers blowing in from the blazes. | Despite cooler conditions than at the weekend, officials in Victoria have warned residents to watch out for embers blowing in from the blazes. |
| Mr Rudd promised damaged communities would be rebuilt, and there would be no limit on federal spending. NICK BRYANT'S AUSTRALIA One man said he hardly had time to react let alone move, so fast were the advancing walls of flames. Read Nick's thoughts in full | Mr Rudd promised damaged communities would be rebuilt, and there would be no limit on federal spending. NICK BRYANT'S AUSTRALIA One man said he hardly had time to react let alone move, so fast were the advancing walls of flames. Read Nick's thoughts in full |
| "We have deliberately made the decision to place no cap on the Commonwealth's contribution to the recovery and reconstruction effort," he said. | "We have deliberately made the decision to place no cap on the Commonwealth's contribution to the recovery and reconstruction effort," he said. |
| Although it would take time and effort, he added, "we will rebuild each of these communities... until one day we can look back and say these towns have been reborn". | Although it would take time and effort, he added, "we will rebuild each of these communities... until one day we can look back and say these towns have been reborn". |
| He appealed for charitable donations and said about A$15m (£6.8m) had been collected so far. Mr Rudd earlier announced an aid package of A$10m. | He appealed for charitable donations and said about A$15m (£6.8m) had been collected so far. Mr Rudd earlier announced an aid package of A$10m. |
| The Australian Red Cross has appealed for blood, money and clothes, as some people escaping from the fires fled their homes with only the clothes they were wearing. | The Australian Red Cross has appealed for blood, money and clothes, as some people escaping from the fires fled their homes with only the clothes they were wearing. |
| Crime scenes? | Crime scenes? |
| The 100-strong Task Force Phoenix will work with the Victoria state coroners' office, as well as fire and health authorities, to investigate all fire-related deaths. | The 100-strong Task Force Phoenix will work with the Victoria state coroners' office, as well as fire and health authorities, to investigate all fire-related deaths. |
| Detectives have already sealed off a number of sites, including the devastated small town of Maryville, as possible crime scenes. HOW BUSHFIRES SPREAD 1 Fires start in hot dry windy weather2 Embers blown ahead of fire front3 Spot fires start where embers land Creating the perfect firestormBushfire dilemma: Flee or fight? | Detectives have already sealed off a number of sites, including the devastated small town of Maryville, as possible crime scenes. HOW BUSHFIRES SPREAD 1 Fires start in hot dry windy weather2 Embers blown ahead of fire front3 Spot fires start where embers land Creating the perfect firestormBushfire dilemma: Flee or fight? |
| In Australia, deliberately lighting a fire which results in death carries a sentence of up to 25 years in prison, while intentionally or recklessly causing a bushfire carries a 15-year maximum sentence. | In Australia, deliberately lighting a fire which results in death carries a sentence of up to 25 years in prison, while intentionally or recklessly causing a bushfire carries a 15-year maximum sentence. |
| Victoria's Police Commissioner Christine Nixon said rescuers were searching charred areas road by road and house by house. | Victoria's Police Commissioner Christine Nixon said rescuers were searching charred areas road by road and house by house. |
| "This the really worst part of the process for all of us. It is about a house-to-house and vehicle-to-vehicle, in some cases, to find those who've died," she said. | "This the really worst part of the process for all of us. It is about a house-to-house and vehicle-to-vehicle, in some cases, to find those who've died," she said. |
| "As we go into areas now that we haven't been able to get into before, we believe we'll find many more." | "As we go into areas now that we haven't been able to get into before, we believe we'll find many more." |
| Walls of flame | Walls of flame |
| Forensic investigators from around the country, including experts who helped to identify those killed in the Bali bombings in October 2002, have flown in to help the operation. INTERACTIVE MAP Audio slideshow: Fleeing the flamesEyewitnesses describe their ordealAustralian media: Wildfire horrorAre you affected? See eyewitness reports and add your experiences | Forensic investigators from around the country, including experts who helped to identify those killed in the Bali bombings in October 2002, have flown in to help the operation. INTERACTIVE MAP Audio slideshow: Fleeing the flamesEyewitnesses describe their ordealAustralian media: Wildfire horrorAre you affected? See eyewitness reports and add your experiences |
| Forensic teams have the difficult task of identifying remains found in burnt-out houses and cars, says the BBC's Phil Mercer in Melbourne. | Forensic teams have the difficult task of identifying remains found in burnt-out houses and cars, says the BBC's Phil Mercer in Melbourne. |
| In the nearby town of Kinglake, vast areas have been reduced to ash, our correspondent says - a once-vibrant community scorched by fast-moving walls of flame. | In the nearby town of Kinglake, vast areas have been reduced to ash, our correspondent says - a once-vibrant community scorched by fast-moving walls of flame. |
| A record heatwave and changing wind directions on Saturday helped fan the flames. | A record heatwave and changing wind directions on Saturday helped fan the flames. |
| Many people are searching for loved ones among the survivors taking refuge in Victoria's relief centres. | Many people are searching for loved ones among the survivors taking refuge in Victoria's relief centres. |
| Relatives concerned about family members in the affected areas can contact the Australian Red Cross 24-hour helpline on (0061) 393283716 or, from the UK, the British Red Cross international tracing and message service on 0845 053 2004. | Relatives concerned about family members in the affected areas can contact the Australian Red Cross 24-hour helpline on (0061) 393283716 or, from the UK, the British Red Cross international tracing and message service on 0845 053 2004. |
| Are you affected by the fires? Do you have friends or relatives in the area? | Are you affected by the fires? Do you have friends or relatives in the area? |
| Send your comments using the post form below. | Send your comments using the post form below. |
| In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |