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World recalls end of World War I World recalls end of World War I
(20 minutes later)
Ceremonies are being held across the globe to mark the 90th anniversary of the end of World War I.Ceremonies are being held across the globe to mark the 90th anniversary of the end of World War I.
Four years of trench warfare between Germany and the Allies killed some 20m people and redrew the map of Europe.Four years of trench warfare between Germany and the Allies killed some 20m people and redrew the map of Europe.
A major commemoration is taking place in Verdun, north-east France, where French and German troops fought for eight months.A major commemoration is taking place in Verdun, north-east France, where French and German troops fought for eight months.
The battle was the war's longest, and Verdun has since become a symbol of Franco-German reconciliation.The battle was the war's longest, and Verdun has since become a symbol of Franco-German reconciliation.
The Verdun hillside has come to symbolise the conflict's awful savagery, says the BBC's Europe correspondent, Jonny Dymond: During the fighting, more than 60m shells fell on the land, transforming it into a pitted piece of hell on earth.The Verdun hillside has come to symbolise the conflict's awful savagery, says the BBC's Europe correspondent, Jonny Dymond: During the fighting, more than 60m shells fell on the land, transforming it into a pitted piece of hell on earth.
No survivorsNo survivors
Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne, and the Duchess of Cornwall are French President Nicolas Sarkozy's guests of honour at the event. class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">HAVE YOUR SAY I shall remember my grandfather Thomas Crawford Robson killed only seven days before armistice Linda, Leeds, UK class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5626&edition=1&ttl=20081111090416">Send us your comments Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne, and the Duchess of Cornwall are French President Nicolas Sarkozy's guests of honour at the event.
But no veterans are in attendance, says our correspondent. Not one member of the two huge armies that clashed on the fields of Verdun survives.But no veterans are in attendance, says our correspondent. Not one member of the two huge armies that clashed on the fields of Verdun survives.
Only the dead are left to be remembered, and the backdrop of the service is the ossuary, which contains the bones of 130,000 men who died in the fighting. Only the dead are left to be remembered, and the backdrop of the service is a huge stone ossuary, which contains the bones of 130,000 men who died in the fighting, as well as the unidentified remains of soldiers from both sides. class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">HAVE YOUR SAY I shall remember my grandfather Thomas Crawford Robson killed only seven days before armistice Linda, Leeds, UK class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5626&edition=1&ttl=20081111090416">Send us your comments
Mr Sarkozy and Prince Charles laid wreaths in front of the building, a field of 15,000 graves. Mr Sarkozy, Prince Charles, Australia's Governor-General Quentin Bryce and Peter Mueller, the president of German Bundesrat, laid wreaths in a field of 15,000 graves in front of the building.
At 1111 (1011 GMT) a respectful silence was observed, marking the time - at the 11th minute of the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month - when the Armistice Treaty came into effect to end the war.At 1111 (1011 GMT) a respectful silence was observed, marking the time - at the 11th minute of the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month - when the Armistice Treaty came into effect to end the war.
The silence was followed by the tolling of the bell inside the ossuary, as sombre-faced dignitaries processed inside. The silence was followed by the tolling of the bell inside the ossuary, as sombre-faced dignitaries processed inside to watch Mr Sarkozy light a memorial flame before a male choir sang the French national anthem.
There, Mr Sarkozy lit a memorial flame before a male choir sang the French national anthem. The French president then addressed the hundreds present, paying tribute to all who had died, as well as the suffering of the bereaved who lost loved fathers and sons in the fighting.
"France will never forget its children who have suffered for its sake," he said.
He then paid respect to the soldiers from Europe, North America, Africa and Australasia "who died far away from their countries to defend our liberty".
Pacific centuryPacific century
Remembrance ceremonies have already been held in Australia, which lost 60,000 men in the conflict.Services were held across Australia to remember the deadRemembrance ceremonies have already been held in Australia, which lost 60,000 men in the conflict.Services were held across Australia to remember the dead
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd used a speech at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra to issue a call for peace.Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd used a speech at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra to issue a call for peace.
"We have all endured a most bloody century," he said."We have all endured a most bloody century," he said.
"Let us resolve afresh at the dawn of this new century... that this might be a truly pacific peaceful century.""Let us resolve afresh at the dawn of this new century... that this might be a truly pacific peaceful century."
A lone bugler then played the Last Post, which is used to to commemorate the war dead in Commonwealth countries.A lone bugler then played the Last Post, which is used to to commemorate the war dead in Commonwealth countries.
In the UK, three of the four surviving British World War I veterans - Henry Allingham, 112, Harry Patch, 110, and Bill Stone, 108 - will represent the RAF, Army and Royal Navy respectively during a ceremony at London's Cenotaph.In the UK, three of the four surviving British World War I veterans - Henry Allingham, 112, Harry Patch, 110, and Bill Stone, 108 - will represent the RAF, Army and Royal Navy respectively during a ceremony at London's Cenotaph.
Mr Patch, Britain's oldest survivor of the trenches, will read an act of remembrance.Mr Patch, Britain's oldest survivor of the trenches, will read an act of remembrance.
World War I was the world's first industrialised war.World War I was the world's first industrialised war.
It toppled four European empires, led to the creation of the Soviet Union, and marked the end of Europe's long global hegemony.It toppled four European empires, led to the creation of the Soviet Union, and marked the end of Europe's long global hegemony.