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Bush to mark Katrina anniversary Bush marks two years from Katrina
(40 minutes later)
US President George W Bush is to honour those who have "dedicated their lives to the renewal of New Orleans", two years after Hurricane Katrina. US President George W Bush has praised the people of New Orleans and insisted the city will fully recover, two years after being hit by Hurricane Katrina.
He is due to attend a memorial service in New Orleans and make a speech on the city's reconstruction efforts, before travelling to Mississippi. "Better days are ahead," the president told an audience at a school in one of the districts flooded in 2005, before heading to neighbouring Mississippi.
In the wake of the storm Mr Bush vowed to "do what it takes" to rebuild the city, but he has since faced criticism.In the wake of the storm Mr Bush vowed to "do what it takes" to rebuild the city, but he has since faced criticism.
Katrina killed 1,600 people in the states of Louisiana and Mississippi.Katrina killed 1,600 people in the states of Louisiana and Mississippi.
As thoughts turn to the events of two years ago, churches are due to hold memorial services and ring bells in honour of the victims. The storm made landfall as a strong Category Three hurricane at 0610 on 29 August 2005 and flooded some 80% of the city after levees broke under the pressure of the storm.
[People] want to send a message to politicians that they want them to do more and do it faster Rev Marshall TruehillBaptist pastor class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/6967963.stm">Volunteers key to recovery class="" href="/1/hi/puffbox/promo/regular/6965626.inc">Audio slideshow: Storm blues Spirit
Mr Bush spoke at the Dr Martin Luther King Charter School for Math and Science, the first school to reopen in New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward, one of the areas most affected by the flooding.
[People] want to send a message to politicians that they want them to do more and do it faster Rev Marshall TruehillBaptist pastor Volunteers key to recovery Audio slideshow: Storm blues
"Hurricane Katrina broke the levees, it broke a lot of hearts, it destroyed buildings, but it didn't affect the spirit of this community," he said.
He recounted federal efforts to rebuild and make stronger the city's flood defences, rebuild damaged communities and restore wetlands along the Gulf coast.
The president was then due to travel on to a community centre in Bay St Louis, Mississippi.
Across the region hit by the storm, churches are holding memorial services and ring bells in honour of the victims.
In New Orleans, public officials will attend a groundbreaking at Charity Hospital for a victims' memorial and a mausoleum that will house the remains of more than 100 victims still not identified.In New Orleans, public officials will attend a groundbreaking at Charity Hospital for a victims' memorial and a mausoleum that will house the remains of more than 100 victims still not identified.
At dusk, a candlelit vigil will be held in Jackson Square.At dusk, a candlelit vigil will be held in Jackson Square.
Mr Bush will visit the Dr Martin Luther King Charter School for Math and Science in New Orleans, before travelling on to a community centre in Bay St Louis, Mississippi.
ResentmentResentment
The president arrived in the region on Tuesday, meeting Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco and New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin at the city's famous Dooky Chase restaurant.The president arrived in the region on Tuesday, meeting Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco and New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin at the city's famous Dooky Chase restaurant.
Katrina was the one of the worst natural disasters in US historyKatrina was the one of the worst natural disasters in US history
He praised the people of New Orleans, and singled out the "social entrepreneurs" - among them athletes, artists, musicians and developers - who sat around the table with him.He praised the people of New Orleans, and singled out the "social entrepreneurs" - among them athletes, artists, musicians and developers - who sat around the table with him.
The Bush administration was widely criticised by local residents who felt abandoned in the immediate aftermath of the disaster.The Bush administration was widely criticised by local residents who felt abandoned in the immediate aftermath of the disaster.
There is still resentment at the slow pace of reconstruction, and protests are planned in New Orleans.There is still resentment at the slow pace of reconstruction, and protests are planned in New Orleans.
"People are angry, and they want to send a message to politicians that they want them to do more and do it faster," Rev Marshall Truehill, a Baptist pastor, told the Associated Press news agency."People are angry, and they want to send a message to politicians that they want them to do more and do it faster," Rev Marshall Truehill, a Baptist pastor, told the Associated Press news agency.