Australians on Sunday observed a national day of mourning for the victims of the devastating fires in Victoria state.

A ceremony was held at an arena in Melbourne, the capital of the disaster-hit state. Mourners were led by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and other dignitaries. The 90-minute ceremony was being broadcast across Australia, and smaller ceremonies were being held elsewhere in the country.

Police have confirmed that 209 people were killed in the fires that swept across Victoria earlier this month. It was Australia's worst natural disaster in more than a century.

(CCTV February 23, 2009)