Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd (C) embraces members of Australia's Stolen Generation after delivering a speech in Canberra, Australia, Feb. 13, 2008. Rudd announced a national apology to the country's indigenous people in the parliament Wednesday morning. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    CANBERRA, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced a national apology to the country's indigenous people here in the parliament Wednesday morning.

    "We reflect on their past mistreatment. We reflect in particular on the mistreatment of those who were stolen generations, this blemished chapter in our nation's history," Rudd said.

    "We apologize for the laws and policies of successive parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians," the apology says.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd speaks during a traditional "welcome to country" ceremony held at parliament house in Canberra. Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced a national apology to the country's indigenous people in the parliament Wednesday morning. (AFP Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    The former Howard government, which lost last year's election, refused to issue a formal apology claiming it would leave the commonwealth liable to a flood of compensation claims.

    "For the pain, suffering and hurt of these stolen generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry.

    "To the mothers and the fathers, the brothers and the sisters, for the breaking up of families and communities, we say sorry.

    "And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry," the prime minister said in an emotional speech.

    Hundreds of indigenous Australians descended on Canberra to witness the historic apology which comes more than a decade after the Bringing Them Home report.

    The report documented the stories of tens of thousands of Aboriginal children taken from their families by governments from 1910 to the early 1970s.

    Rudd said a new page in Australia's history can now be written.

    "We today take this first step by acknowledging the past and laying claim to a future that embraces all Australians," he said.

Feature: A historic moment for all Australians

    CANBERRA, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- When Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was speaking in the parliament to say sorry to the stolen generation, several thousand people were gathering on the lawns in front of the Parliament House in Canberra Wednesday morning, to hear the apology with tears and cheers. Full story

Australian PM details tragic story in motion of apology

    CANBERRA, Feb 13 (Xinhua) -- Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made an emotional apology to the nation Wednesday morning in the parliament, particularly to the indigenous people for their sufferings and griefs. Full story

Australian parliament passes motion of apology to indigenous people

    CANBERRA, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Australian House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a motion tabled earlier by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd concerning the national apology to the indigenous people for their profound grief, suffering and loss caused by the past government policies. Full story

Rudd calls on the nation to turn on a new page

    CANBERRA, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- In delivering a national apology to the indigenous people of the country, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on Wednesday called on the nation to look forward and turn on a new page. Full story

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