(Gulfnews) Canberra: The funeral of the first soldier in Australia's Afghanistan and Iraq forces to be killed by enemy action halted Australia's election race yesterday, as both leadership rivals called a truce to attend.
Prime Minister John Howard and Labor's Kevin Rudd took time out from a campaign that will determine the future of Australia's military contribution to Iraq to join mourners and military chiefs at a cathedral in Brisbane.
"It's a double sadness," Rudd, who has promised to bring combat troops home from Iraq, told local radio.
"It is [sad] for any family who's lost a loved one, but in particular a family who's lost a man in uniform representing his country, fighting for his country overseas," he said. "Mr Howard and myself are as one today in expressing our solidarity with the family on the loss of a good man."