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CANBERRA - Australians would be invited to observe a national day of mourning this Sunday in the wake of the US terrorist attacks, Prime Minister John Howard said. Mr Howard said a national memorial service would also be held next week.
"We'll be inviting Australians to treat ... this coming Sunday as a national day of mourning," he told a press conference.
"And we would hope that flags would be flown at half mast and no doubt special reverence and observance will be kept in churches and other faiths throughout the country.
"I also intend that a national memorial service be held in the Great Hall (of Parliament House) next Monday."
Mr Howard said he would invite Opposition Leader Kim Beazley to join him in reading the lessons at the service.
"It will be a religious service," he said.
"It will give an adequate opportunity for observance of the great loss of lives of Americans and Australians and the impact that this has had on both our communities, particularly the United States.
"I'll also introduce and I'm sure it will be supported by the leader of the opposition, a resolution condemning what occurred in unequivocal terms and allowing an adequate amount of debate on all sides.
"(I will) then propose that the House adjourn after that on Monday as a mark of respect for those who lost their lives in this very tragic event."
Mr Howard urged Australians of all ethnic backgrounds to be understanding and tolerant in the wake of the terrorist attacks.
He said there were about 200,000 Australians of Middle Eastern descent, the majority of which condemned the attacks.
He said it was understandable that some people were upset over the alleged Middle Eastern links of the US terrorists, but that had to be set aside from Arabic Australians.
"Like any other ethnic group, the overwhelming majority of them are wonderful Australians, law abiding and committed to the unity of this country," he said.
"They should not bear the burden of things that they despise as much as I do.
"It's important, especially important at a time like this, that people of different faiths, indeed people with no faiths at all, that everyone be treated in a decent, understanding and tolerant fashion."
Brought to you by AAP.
