Obama Visits War Memorial in Canberra

CANBERRA, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday morning visited Australian War Memorial in Canberra, where he paid tribute to Australia's fallen soldiers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It is Obama's first visit to the War Memorial as president. He was jointed by Governor-General Quentin Bryce, Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Veteran Affairs Minister Warren Snowden and memorial council chairman Peter Cosgrove. On a walk past the Wall of Remembrance, which contains the names of more than 100,000 Australians killed in action, the president paused at two panels. The first was for HMAS Sydney, sunk with all hands in Australia's worst naval disaster in 1941, and the second was for more than 30 Australian airmen who lost their lives serving with the U.S. Armed Air Force in World War II.