This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/6294198.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
NY firefighters attack Giuliani NY firefighters attack Giuliani
(about 4 hours later)
Firefighters who lost colleagues in the 9/11 attacks in New York have strongly criticised Republican presidential contender Rudy Giuliani.Firefighters who lost colleagues in the 9/11 attacks in New York have strongly criticised Republican presidential contender Rudy Giuliani.
They released a video claiming that failures by the then-mayor of New York led to the deaths of 121 men.They released a video claiming that failures by the then-mayor of New York led to the deaths of 121 men.
The video says Mr Giuliani failed to provide working radios for crews and halted the recovery effort too soon.The video says Mr Giuliani failed to provide working radios for crews and halted the recovery effort too soon.
Mr Giuliani's campaign said the union behind the footage was known to support Democratic presidential candidates. His campaign denounced the footage, saying the union behind it was known to support Democratic candidates.
Mr Giuliani is seen as one of the frontrunners in the race for the Republican nomination.Mr Giuliani is seen as one of the frontrunners in the race for the Republican nomination.
'Taking the hit''Taking the hit'
The 13-minute footage was made by the 280,000-strong International Association of Firefighters (IAFF).The 13-minute footage was made by the 280,000-strong International Association of Firefighters (IAFF).
A total of 343 firefighters died in New York on 11 September 2001 class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/6367783.stm">One-day wonder or contender?
It says Mr Giuliani pushed for a faster cleanup at Ground Zero before all the remains had been recovered, and placed an emergency centre in a building that later collapsed. It says Mr Giuliani pushed for a faster clean-up at Ground Zero before all the remains had been recovered, and placed an emergency centre in a building that later collapsed.
It also accuses the former mayor of failing to provide working radios for firefighters, saying it made it impossible for them to learn that the Twin Towers were about to collapse.It also accuses the former mayor of failing to provide working radios for firefighters, saying it made it impossible for them to learn that the Twin Towers were about to collapse.
"Virtually the whole thing goes back to him with the radios," Jim Riches, a fireman whose son was killed on 9/11, says in the footage."Virtually the whole thing goes back to him with the radios," Jim Riches, a fireman whose son was killed on 9/11, says in the footage.
"He's the guy on the top, and he's the guy you yell at. He takes the hit. And my son is dead because of it.""He's the guy on the top, and he's the guy you yell at. He takes the hit. And my son is dead because of it."
The video - which also offers testimony from other firefighters and their relatives - says Mr Giuliani is exploiting the disaster as a theme for his presidential candidacy.The video - which also offers testimony from other firefighters and their relatives - says Mr Giuliani is exploiting the disaster as a theme for his presidential candidacy.
'Disgrace''Disgrace'
In response, Mr Giuliani's camp accused the IAFF - who has feuded often with Mr Giuliani since the attacks - of playing partisan politics.In response, Mr Giuliani's camp accused the IAFF - who has feuded often with Mr Giuliani since the attacks - of playing partisan politics.
Former firefighter Lee Ielpi, whose son died in the attacks, called the footage a "disgrace", dismissing the allegations against Mr Giuliani.Former firefighter Lee Ielpi, whose son died in the attacks, called the footage a "disgrace", dismissing the allegations against Mr Giuliani.
"I was there. I saw it. I experienced it. I'm not going to let lies like this go," he said."I was there. I saw it. I experienced it. I'm not going to let lies like this go," he said.
Mr Giuliani's campaign also said he had a long history of supporting firefighters on health and safety issues.Mr Giuliani's campaign also said he had a long history of supporting firefighters on health and safety issues.