(Xinhua 2008-05-18 19:16:14)Flags are to be kept at half-mast and all public amusements will be suspended for three days from Monday as China begins an official mourning period for victims of the May 12 earthquake.

The State Council, the Cabinet, on Sunday ordered a nationwide respect for the dead. The Olympic torch relay will also be suspended from Monday to Wednesday, the Beijing Olympic organizing committee said.

China's diplomatic missions abroad were also ordered to observe the mourning order, and condolence books are to be opened in the Foreign Ministry and Chinese embassies and consulates around the world.

The public are asked to stand in silence for three minutes from 2:28 p.m. Monday, while automobiles, trains, and ships will sound their air sirens.

The order was issued in a brief circular that contained no further details.

TORCH RELAY SUSPENSION

The Beijing Olympic torch relay in east China's Ningbo city will be put off for three days until May 22, the local torch relay organizing committee said Sunday.

Lao Jinlong, deputy head of Ningbo City Sports Bureau, said, "All the public entertainment activities will be cancelled during the three days of mourning, including the torch relay."

The Ningbo leg is the fourth leg of the torch relay in Zhejiang province.

The death toll from the powerful earthquake rose to 32,476 nationwide as of 2 p.m. Sunday, while the number of injured reached 220,109, according to the emergencyresponse office under the State Council.

PUBLIC APPEAL TO NATIONAL MOURNING

Ge Jianxiong, a professor with Fudan University in Shanghai, made an appeal to China's top legislature to mark May 19 a national mourning day in his article published in Southern Metropolis Daily on May 16.

The commemoration could express people's condolence and respect to the dead and government's concern for lives as well as strong determination to reconstruction after the quake, Ge said.

The professor also appealed to all religious organs to express grief and pray in their own ways and most of his appeal's content has been consistent with the Cabinet's order.

He suggested no activities should interfere in people's regular working and living, and any forms of mourning in quake-hit areas should be subject to disaster relief.

The professor, who had received disputed comments on his attitude toward some social issues, has been widely supported by Internet users for the appeal.

Many netizens expressed their hopes that professor Ge's appeal could attract an attention by the government. According to Chinese laws, the State Council has the power to order half-mast.

Some people living in Sichuan suggested to memorize May 12 as a provincial mourning day to encourage the survivors of the quake and all schools should half-mast.

Hu Guangwei, a scholar with Sichuan Academy of Social Sciences, said mourning day will not only memorize the victims but also enlighten later generations with a spirit of getting united.

Professor Wang Jianping with Sichuan University said China should codify a national mourning day and make it a convention.