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US remembers 9/11 five years on US remembers 9/11 five years on
(about 1 hour later)
Ceremonies are being held in the US to mark the fifth anniversary of the 11 September attacks.Ceremonies are being held in the US to mark the fifth anniversary of the 11 September attacks.
President George W Bush began the commemorations on Sunday by laying a wreath at Ground Zero, the site of New York's Twin Towers.President George W Bush began the commemorations on Sunday by laying a wreath at Ground Zero, the site of New York's Twin Towers.
Flags will fly at half-mast and bells will toll in New York at the time the North Tower was struck.Flags will fly at half-mast and bells will toll in New York at the time the North Tower was struck.
Relatives will read the names of the almost 3,000 people who died in the al-Qaeda-led attacks. Relatives will read the names of the 2,973 people who died in the four al-Qaeda-led attacks.
As the US began the anniversary, an apparently new video has been aired from al-Qaeda deputy leader Ayman al-Zawahri, who urged Muslims to increase resistance against the US.As the US began the anniversary, an apparently new video has been aired from al-Qaeda deputy leader Ayman al-Zawahri, who urged Muslims to increase resistance against the US.
TV addressTV address
Relatives of the 2,973 people who died in the attacks will gather in New York to read out the names of the victims, punctuated by four silences. Relatives those who died in the attacks will gather in New York to read out the names of the victims, punctuated by four silences.
I think it's clear that we are safer but not really yet safe Condoleezza Rice MAIN US EVENTS Ground Zero ceremony begins at 0840 (1240 GMT)Wreath-laying at Shanksville, Pennsylvania, 1935 GMTPresident Bush to address nation at 0100 GMT TuesWreath-laying at Pentagon, 0101 GMT Tues
They will be at 0846 local time (1246GMT) - when the first plane struck - then at 0903, 0959 and 1029, the times of the second strike and the falling of the two towers. They will be at 0846 local time (1246 GMT) - when the first plane struck the North Tower - then at 0903, 0959 and 1029, the times of the second strike and the falling of the two towers.
Silences will also be observed at the Boston air terminal where the planes that hit the Twin Towers took off.Silences will also be observed at the Boston air terminal where the planes that hit the Twin Towers took off.
Mr Bush is expected to observe the silence with firefighters involved in the rescue operations five years ago, whom he will be joining for breakfast.Mr Bush is expected to observe the silence with firefighters involved in the rescue operations five years ago, whom he will be joining for breakfast.
He will also visit the Pentagon, hit by a third plane, and the Pennsylvania crash site of the hijacked United Airlines Flight 93.He will also visit the Pentagon, hit by a third plane, and the Pennsylvania crash site of the hijacked United Airlines Flight 93.
New Yorkers reflect on the attacks of 11 September 2001In picturesNew Yorkers reflect on the attacks of 11 September 2001In pictures
On Monday evening at 2100 local time he is expected to make a formal TV address to the nation from the Oval Office.On Monday evening at 2100 local time he is expected to make a formal TV address to the nation from the Oval Office.
It is just the fifth time Mr Bush will make such an address to the American people - the first was on the day of the attacks.It is just the fifth time Mr Bush will make such an address to the American people - the first was on the day of the attacks.
The president began the anniversary on Sunday at Ground Zero as he and his wife, Laura, walked to where the Twin Towers once stood.The president began the anniversary on Sunday at Ground Zero as he and his wife, Laura, walked to where the Twin Towers once stood.
They placed floral wreaths of red, white and blue upon two dark ponds of water as a bagpiper played America the Beautiful.They placed floral wreaths of red, white and blue upon two dark ponds of water as a bagpiper played America the Beautiful.
He later attended a remembrance service at a nearby chapel.He later attended a remembrance service at a nearby chapel.
Mr Bush said the anniversary would be "a day of sadness for a lot of people".Mr Bush said the anniversary would be "a day of sadness for a lot of people".
He added: "I vowed that I'm never going to forget the lessons of that day. There's still an enemy out there that would like to inflict the same kind of damage again."He added: "I vowed that I'm never going to forget the lessons of that day. There's still an enemy out there that would like to inflict the same kind of damage again."
ProtestersProtesters
The events come as Mr Bush continues to face criticism over his war on terror in the run-up to November's mid-term Congressional elections.The events come as Mr Bush continues to face criticism over his war on terror in the run-up to November's mid-term Congressional elections.
Both Vice-President Dick Cheney and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the US was now safer than it was before the 2001 attacks.
HAVE YOUR SAY 9/11 taught us the true brutality of terrorism J Fernando, Colombo Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY 9/11 taught us the true brutality of terrorism J Fernando, Colombo Send us your comments
Both Vice-President Dick Cheney and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the US was now safer than it was before the 2001 attacks.
Mr Cheney said: "There has not been another attack on the United States. And that's not an accident."
But Democrat Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid countered: "Vice-President Cheney's influence over our nation's foreign policy has made America less safe."But Democrat Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid countered: "Vice-President Cheney's influence over our nation's foreign policy has made America less safe."
White House spokesman Tony Snow insisted Mr Bush's TV address would not be "a political speech".White House spokesman Tony Snow insisted Mr Bush's TV address would not be "a political speech".
"It is a reflection of what 11 September has meant to the president, and to the country; the realities that it has brought to all of our attention and how we can move forward together to try to win the war on terror," Mr Snow said."It is a reflection of what 11 September has meant to the president, and to the country; the realities that it has brought to all of our attention and how we can move forward together to try to win the war on terror," Mr Snow said.
Mr Bush's ratings soared after 11 September, but have declined with the war in Iraq and amid questions over the administration's handling of the war on terror.Mr Bush's ratings soared after 11 September, but have declined with the war in Iraq and amid questions over the administration's handling of the war on terror.
I think it's clear that we are safer but not really yet safe Condoleezza Rice
Even as the president lay the wreaths at Ground Zero, crowds of protesters calling for a US withdrawal from Iraq had gathered nearby.Even as the president lay the wreaths at Ground Zero, crowds of protesters calling for a US withdrawal from Iraq had gathered nearby.
As the anniversary began, CNN broadcast what is said was a new video featuring al-Qaeda's Zawahri.As the anniversary began, CNN broadcast what is said was a new video featuring al-Qaeda's Zawahri.
He refers to this summer's Israeli bombardment of Lebanon and the capture of Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah.He refers to this summer's Israeli bombardment of Lebanon and the capture of Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah.
He says: "You gave us every legitimacy and every opportunity to continue fighting you.He says: "You gave us every legitimacy and every opportunity to continue fighting you.
"You should worry about your presence in the Gulf and the second place you should worry about is Israel.""You should worry about your presence in the Gulf and the second place you should worry about is Israel."