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US remembers 9/11 five years on US remembers 9/11 five years on
(40 minutes later)
Two minute-long silences have been observed at the World Trade Center site to mark the fifth anniversary of the 11 September attacks. Four minute-long silences have been observed in New York to mark the fifth anniversary of the 11 September attacks.
After the first silence, which marked the time a plane hit the north tower, relatives began to read out the names of the 2,749 who died in New York. After the first silence, held at the site of the World Trade Center, relatives began to read out the names of the 2,749 who died in New York.
Beforehand, bells chimed as families gathered holding photos of loved ones. Tearful families laid flowers in pools at the site.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg spoke of the "heart-breaking anniversary" as the ceremony got under way.New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg spoke of the "heart-breaking anniversary" as the ceremony got under way.
Flags flew at half mast as the first silence was observed at 0846 New York time (1246 GMT/ 1346 BST). Flags flew at half mast as the first silence was observed at 0846 New York time (1246 GMT/1346 BST) - the time a hijacked plane hit the north tower of the World Trade Center.
"Five years have come and gone and we still stand together as one," said Mr Bloomberg."Five years have come and gone and we still stand together as one," said Mr Bloomberg.
MAIN US EVENTS Ground Zero ceremony begins at 0840 (1240 GMT)Four silences, 0846 (1246 GMT), 0903 (1303 GMT), 0959 (1359 GMT), 1029 (1429 GMT)Family memorial ceremony at Pentagon, 0900 (1300 GMT)Wreath-laying at Shanksville, Pennsylvania, 1535 (1935 GMT)President Bush to address nation, 2101 (0100 GMT Tues) New al-Qaeda warning US media on 9/11 aftermath International media review "We come back to this place to remember... each person who died here, those known and unknown to us, whose absence is always with us," said Mr Bloomberg. MAIN US EVENTS Ground Zero ceremony begins at 0840 (1240 GMT)Four silences, 0846 (1246 GMT), 0903 (1303 GMT), 0959 (1359 GMT), 1029 (1429 GMT)Family memorial ceremony at Pentagon, 0900 (1300 GMT)Wreath-laying at Shanksville, Pennsylvania, 1535 (1935 GMT)President Bush to address nation, 2101 (0100 GMT Tues) New al-Qaeda warning US media on 9/11 aftermath International media review "We come back to this place to remember... each person who died here, those known and unknown to us, whose absence is always with us."
"If I ever lost you, how much would I cry - how deep is the ocean? How high is the sky?," the wife of one of the victims of the attacks read, using the words of a song to express her loss. The roll call of victims' names, carried out to the strains of a solo cello, was broken for a second silence at 0903 (1303 GMT), the time of the second plane strike, on the south tower.
Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani addressed the crowds after a third silence at 0959 (1359 GMT), which marked the moment the first tower fell.
"God bless all of those that we lost, God bless all of you who mourn for them, remember them and live on in their spirit and God Bless America," he said.
President George W Bush joined firefighters at a New York fire station to observe the silences.President George W Bush joined firefighters at a New York fire station to observe the silences.
The roll call of victims' names was broken for a second silence at 0903 (1303 GMT), the time of the second strike, on the south tower. Memorial ceremonies are also under way at the Pentagon, to mark the attack there, and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where 40 people died when the hijacked United Flight 93 crashed to the ground.
Further silences are planned for 0959 (1359 GMT) and 1029 (1429 GMT), the times the two towers fell. A fourth silence in New York at 1029 (1429 GMT), marked the time the second tower fell.
Silences are also being observed at the Boston airport from where the planes that hit the towers took off.Silences are also being observed at the Boston airport from where the planes that hit the towers took off.
As the ceremony took place, a United Airlines flight from Atlanta, Georgia, was diverted to Dallas for "security reasons", US officials said - although one official told Reuters the plane was "secure" and had been diverted out of an "abundance of caution".
TV addressTV address
Mr Bush will later visit the Pentagon, hit by a third plane, and the Pennsylvania crash site of the hijacked United Airlines Flight 93. Mr Bush will later visit the other sites where hijacked aircraft crashed - the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania.
New Yorkers reflect on the attacks of 11 September 2001In picturesNew Yorkers reflect on the attacks of 11 September 2001In pictures
In the evening, at 2100 local time (0100 GMT), he will make a formal TV address to the nation from the Oval Office.In the evening, at 2100 local time (0100 GMT), he will make a formal TV address to the nation from the Oval Office.
It will be only the fifth time that Mr Bush has made such an address to the American people - the first was on the day of the attacks.It will be only the fifth time that Mr Bush has made such an address to the American people - the first was on the day of the attacks.
At Ground Zero on Sunday, President Bush and his wife, Laura, began the commemorations by placing floral wreaths of red, white and blue upon two dark pools of water as a bagpiper played America the Beautiful.At Ground Zero on Sunday, President Bush and his wife, Laura, began the commemorations by placing floral wreaths of red, white and blue upon two dark pools of water as a bagpiper played America the Beautiful.
They later attended a remembrance service at a nearby chapel.They 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
As the US began the anniversary, broadcasters aired an apparently new video from al-Qaeda deputy leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, who urged Muslims to increase resistance against the US.As the US began the anniversary, broadcasters aired an apparently new video from al-Qaeda deputy leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, who urged Muslims to increase resistance against the US.
In the footage he referred to the recent Israeli bombardment of Lebanon, saying al-Qaeda had been given "every legitimacy" to keep fighting the US and its allies.In the footage he referred to the recent Israeli bombardment of Lebanon, saying al-Qaeda had been given "every legitimacy" to keep fighting the US and its allies.
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.
ATTACKS IN DETAIL How the towers fell The four hijacksATTACKS IN DETAIL How the towers fell The four hijacks
Both Vice-President Dick Cheney and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the US was now safer than it was before the 2001 attacks.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."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.
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
Mr Bush's ratings soared after 11 September, but have declined with the war in Iraq and growing doubts about 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 growing doubts about the administration's handling of the "war on terror".
Even as the president laid the wreaths at Ground Zero, crowds of protesters calling for a US withdrawal from Iraq gathered nearby.Even as the president laid the wreaths at Ground Zero, crowds of protesters calling for a US withdrawal from Iraq gathered nearby.