Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin has declared Saturday a national day of mourning for tsunami victims in South and Southeast Asia and Africa, an official press release said Friday.

Martin will be participating in an interfaith ceremony in Ottawa starting at noon on Saturday, along with Governor General Adrienne Clarkson and Minister of Heritage Liza Frulla.

Representatives from the Buddhist, Catholic, Hindu, Sikh and Baha'i communities are also doing readings and prayers on Saturday. The Canadian Forces String Ensemble will provide music and a local church choir will perform.

Martin and Clarkson are expected to speak at the ceremony, which will end with a minute of silence. Similar ceremonies are expected to be held across the country.

Five Canadians are confirmed to have been killed, and 146 more remain missing in the 8.7-magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami, which have killed some 150,000 people in South and Southeast Asia.

Source: Xinhua