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| Australia mourns bushfire victims | Australia mourns bushfire victims |
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| Australia is observing a day of mourning for the victims of bushfires which swept across the state of Victoria, claiming more than 200 lives. | Australia is observing a day of mourning for the victims of bushfires which swept across the state of Victoria, claiming more than 200 lives. |
| Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is leading a ceremony of remembrance in the state's capital, Melbourne. | Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is leading a ceremony of remembrance in the state's capital, Melbourne. |
| Many had to be bussed into the city from small towns and villages stricken by the fires, having lost their cars as well as their homes to the flames. | Many had to be bussed into the city from small towns and villages stricken by the fires, having lost their cars as well as their homes to the flames. |
| Firemen continue to battle fresh blazes and some bodies are still to be found. | Firemen continue to battle fresh blazes and some bodies are still to be found. |
| At least 209 people died in fires that swept through Victoria on 7 February, which has become known as Black Saturday. | |
| Australia has launched its biggest-ever arson investigation into the causes of the fires. | |
| One man has already been charged with starting one of the blazes and police suspect arson in at least one other case. | |
| Nation in mourning | |
| The national day of mourning began with the ringing of church bells across Victoria. Today we are united in grief, but we are also united in our determination to recover, to rebuild, and we will rebuild Victoria Premier John Brumby | |
| The mourning service at Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena is being attended by Princess Anne, on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II, as well as Australian dignitaries and both fire survivors and rescue personnel. | |
| Bushfire survivors and volunteers have been given priority seating at the event. | |
| Victoria Premier John Brumby told around 50,000 people gathered in the arena that Australians were picking up the pieces after the worst disaster in the nation's history. | |
| "Today we are united in grief, but we are also united in our determination to recover, to rebuild, and we will rebuild," he said. | |
| "And we will remember today and into the future all of those who lost their lives, and who gave so much on Black Saturday." | |
| High temperatures forecast | |
| Choirs from around Victoria are among those providing music for the ceremony.Australia has launched its biggest ever arson investigation into the fires | |
| The 90-minute event is due to finish with a minute's silence and a message of hope from Mr Rudd. | |
| Afterwards, Princess Anne is due to visit the bushfires Incident Emergency Control Centre in Melbourne before a visit on Monday to some of the fire-devastated areas. | |
| The blazes destroyed hundreds of properties and left thousands of people homeless. | |
| Forecasters warn that high temperatures and wind conditions expected on Monday could worsen the situation. |