Queen attends Mountie memorial

The Queen is visiting during a time of political turmoil in Canada

The Queen and Prince Philip have visited a memorial for four Mounties who were shot dead.

They placed a wreath at the national police training centre in Regina, Saskatchewan and met the families of the dead officers in private.

The Mounties were killed by a gunman as they searched for cannabis on a farm in Edmonton, in March this year.

The Queen is visiting Canada at a time of great political instability with the government surviving a confidence vote.

The nine-day trip is to mark the centenary of Saskatchewan and Alberta's incorporation into Canada.

In pictures: Queen's visit

The dead officers were Peter Schiemann, 25, Anthony Gordon, 28, Lionide Johnston, 32, and 29-year-old Brock Myrol.

Farm owner James Roszko, 46, killed them with a high-powered rifle before ending his own life.

Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin has been accused of using the Queen's visit to deflect attention away from the scandal affecting his Liberal Party.

He survived a confidence vote on Thursday night, relying on the speaker's tie-breaking vote.

The Queen also visited the Canadian Light Source Synchrotron, a research facility at the University of Saskatchewan.