CANBERRA, Sept. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- The Australian government held a memorial service Friday to mark the first anniversary of the bombing of Australian embassy in Jakarta which killed 11 people and hurt 200 others.

    Australian Prime Minister John Howard, Indonesia's ambassador Imron Cotan and staff from Australia's Foreign Affairs Department attended the service.

    Addressing the service, Howard paid tribute to the Indonesians who died protecting Australia's mission a year ago when a car bomb exploded outside the mission.  

    "(I would like) very particularly to record our tremendous sense of gratitude and our great sadness towards those Indonesian nationals who died protecting our embassy," Howard said.  

    "There were 10 Indonesians killed in this attack and they were employees and helpers of our cause in Jakarta," he said.   He also stressed the importance of relations between the two countries.

    "It's an occasion to reaffirm the importance, not only of the fight against terrorism, but to reaffirm the importance of links between Australia and Indonesia," he said.

    "Australia and Indonesia are tied forever by circumstances of geography, strategic challenge, the place we occupy in the world, the important, very important role of Indonesia as the largest Islamic country in the world," he said.

    "The bonds that have grown over the last year, particularly since the election of President (Susilo Bambang) Yudhoyono arevery important to me and all members of the government," he said.  

    The Indonesian ambassador read a statement from Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda which said it was a cowardly act of terrorism and Indonesia would maximize its efforts against the threat.  Enditem