Straw apology to tsunami families

Mourners have remembered the dead across the tsunami zone

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has apologised to British families caught up in last year's Asian tsunami who did not receive adequate support.

UK Foreign Office officials had done a "fantastic job", but it was not enough in some cases, he told the BBC.

He spoke as British relatives attended memorial services on the first anniversary of the disaster.

At the Thai resort Khao Lak, thousands of local people and foreigners joined in silent contemplation.

Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner John Yates, who was among them, paid tribute to the "incredible courage" of the victims' families who had returned to the scenes of their loved ones' last moments.

They have showed incredible courage to be here Deputy Assistant Commissioner John Yates

Foreign Office minister Lord Triesman was also in Khao Lak for the anniversary events.

"It must have been terribly difficult for the families of the victims to revisit the scene where they died," Mr Yates said.

"They have showed incredible courage to be here. It is remarkable."

In total 149 Britons died in the tsunami, while six are still missing.

"We remain absolutely committed to doing everything possible to identifying the six missing people and bringing them home to their families," said Mr Yates.

"I know some of the families of those missing six are here in Thailand and I would like to speak to them directly, although my officers have made contact with them in the past."

'Much bigger'

"Our people did a very good job, and I'm proud of them, but it was a job that wasn't good enough for some families, and I apologise to them, and I have apologised to them unreservedly," Mr Straw said.

Mr Straw said the nature of travel and modern communications meant new demands for consular staff.

"In today's globalised world, in any corner of the world, there are going to be tens, hundreds, sometimes thousands of British citizens travelling there.

Mr Straw said no-one could have foreseen the tsunami's severity

"These are British citizens who, these days, have very high expectations of what the British government can deliver - and fair enough."

He said the emotional impact of the disaster had struck him when he visited Thailand and saw the name of a missing girl, Charlotte - the same name as his own daughter.

More than 150 relatives and friends of some of the British people killed in the tsunami have travelled to the region to take part in official commemorations.

One hundred and thirty seven were at ceremonies in Thailand, while another 15 marked the event in Sri Lanka.

We can hardly begin to imagine how painful and distressing the first anniversary of the tsunami will be Foreign Office Minister Lord Triesman UK victims: full list

The Thai Government has organised ceremonies at six holiday venues - including speeches by government ministers and laying of flowers by relatives of some of those killed.

At Khao Lak, BBC correspondent Chris Hogg watched the memorial service.

"This was a moment for the Thais and the foreigners who'd been through this disaster to mourn together. Standing side by side in the heat, they bowed their heads in silent contemplation. You could see how difficult it was for them," he said.

A Thai official expressed thanks for the support of foreigners who had made the journey back to the coast.

The UK is being represented by Foreign Office Minister Lord Triesman at the commemorative events in Thailand.

He said: "We can hardly begin to imagine how painful and distressing the first anniversary of the tsunami will be for those who were caught up in the disaster or who lost loved ones in it."

In Sri Lanka - where 35,000 are thought to have been killed - children released balloons on a beach.

BBC correspondent Dumeetha Luthra, at the town of Peraliya, said: "Few survivors were present, and no visible outpouring of grief. That has been a more private affair - little ceremonies in individual communities.