The 34th anniversary of Karin Grech's murder was recalled this evening in a remembrance ceremony at San Gwann.

The ceremony was addressed by Labour leader Joseph Muscat who said the country was thirsty for justice but there was also a need for serenity and forgiveness.

Ms Grech had been killed when she opened a letter bomb addressed to her father Edwin, who had returned to Malta to serve at St Luke's Hospital when Maltese doctors were on strike.

Dr Muscat said that the country had to commit itself for those times never to return.

"These were failings which remain a stain on our country's history," he said.

He said the Maltese felt sorrow at the murders of both Karin Grech and Raymond Caruana.

Mr Caruana's death was a tragic, cruel and criminal one as much as Karin's was. Dr Muscat said he looked forward to when such remembrance ceremonies were no longer organised by political parties but by the state.

The ceremony included a concelebrated mass at the San Gwann parish church during which messages and poems were read by young people.

Prof. Grech thanked all who attended the ceremony.