Europe's silent tribute to tsunami victims

Flags were flying at half-mast across the continent to commemorate those killed in the catastrophe, including hundreds if not thousands of European tourists who lost their lives when paradise beaches were swamped by the raging waters of the Indian Ocean.

The continent-wide tribute, for most Europeans at 1100 GMT, came after the first coffins carrying Swedish victims of the December 26 tsunamis which struck South and Southeast Asia arrived in Stockholm early Wednesday.

Sweden, which is feared to be among the worst hit countries in Europe, rolled out full honours for the six caskets, which arrived on board a Hercules military transport plane from Phuket, Thailand.

So far 286 Europeans have been confirmed as dead after the December 26 disaster, but more than 5,000 remain missing and feared dead.

Europe's silent commemoration was called for by the current Luxembourg presidency of the European Union (EU), which is seeking to coordinate European governments' aid efforts.

All Europeans are called on "to observe three minutes of silence in order to show solidarity and mourn the victims of the disaster," said European Commission spokesman Gregor Kreuzhuber.