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US remembers 9/11 five years on US remembers 9/11 five years on
(10 minutes later)
The first one-minute silence has been observed at the World Trade Center site to mark the fifth anniversary of the 11 September attacks. Two minute-long silences have been observed at the World Trade Center site to mark the fifth anniversary of the 11 September attacks.
President George W Bush joined firefighters to observe the silence, which marked the exact time the first plane hit the north tower. After the first silence, which marked the time the first plane hit the north tower, relatives began to read the names of the 2,973 people killed,
Bells chimed, a choir sang, and the wife of one of the 2,973 people killed in the attacks quoted a song. Beforehand, bells chimed, a choir sang, and tearful families gathered, clutching photos of loved ones.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg quoted a poem as the ceremony got under way.New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg quoted a poem as the ceremony got under way.
"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.
President George W Bush joined firefighters to observe the silences.
Mr Bush is also due to attend commemorations in Pennsylvania and at the Pentagon in Washington.Mr Bush is also due to attend commemorations in Pennsylvania and at the Pentagon in Washington.
Flags flew at half mast as the 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).
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 reviewMAIN 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
Then relatives of those who died in the attacks in New York began to read out the names of the victims of the World Trade Center attacks. A second silences was held at 0903 (1303 GMT), the time of the second strike. Further silences are planned for 0959 (1359 GMT) and 1029 (1429 GMT), the times the two towers fell.
Further silences are planned for 0903 (1303 GMT), 0959 (1359 GMT) and 1029 (1429 GMT), the times of the second strike and the falling of the two towers.
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.
TV addressTV address
Mr Bush will also 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 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
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.