[taurus75]

Mourners Mark Tsunami Anniversary

Thaksin declared Dec. 26 an official day of mourning in Thailand, where about half of the 5,395 people confirmed killed were foreigners. Thaksin led an afternoon ceremony to lay a memorial stone in Khao Lak in Phang Nga province, which accounted for about 80 percent of Thailand's casualties.

``I wish those who passed away will be happy in their next life and their souls will be in heaven,'' Thaksin said after laying flowers at a monument on Phuket's Patong beach today.

A group of surfers paddled out at dawn to release flowers near Patong. Later today, Thai Princess Ubol Ratana, who lost her son in the disaster at Khao Lak, is scheduled to speak before the lighting of floating lanterns at a service with Catholic, Protestant, Buddhist, Islamic, Sikh and Hindu leaders at Chong Fa Beach.