20 Nov 2011

Australian PM visits Bali bombing memorial

7:46 am on 20 November 2011

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard visited the site of the 2002 Bali bombings on Saturday morning.

Ms Gillard and other world leaders are in Bali for the East Asia Summit.

She and Trade Minister Craig Emerson paid their respects to the victims of the 2002 and 2005 Bali bombings.

Ms Gillard visited the memorial on the site of the original Paddy's bar, which was destroyed in the 2002 bombings.

The ABC reports a total of 222 people died in the two attacks, including 92 Australians.

Amid tight security, including roof-top snipers, Ms Gillard laid a wreath at the memorial site.

She says most Australians will always remember where they were when they heard the news of the bombings.

"The first Bali bombing cost us 88 Australian lives and so many others lost their life on that fateful night," she said.

"To see their names in front of (me) as I laid the wreath was a moving experience."

Ms Gillard also met Bali Governor Made Pastika who led the investigation into the bombings. She stayed at the site for about 30 minutes.