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US remembers 9/11 five years on US remembers 9/11 five years on
(about 1 hour later)
Four minute-long silences have been observed at the World Trade Center site to mark the fifth anniversary of the 11 September attacks on the US. Sombre ceremonies have been held at the three sites where nearly 3,000 people died on 11 September 2001, on the fifth anniversary of the attacks on the US.
The crowd gathered there fell silent at the exact times of the plane strikes and collapse of each of the towers. People fell silent at New York's World Trade Center site to mark the times the planes hit and the towers fell.
Families laid flowers in pools at the site, as relatives read out the names of the 2,749 who died in New York. Over three hours, the names of the 2,749 killed there were read out.
Memorial ceremonies are also being held at the other crash sites - the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania. After meeting New York firefighters, President George W Bush laid a wreath at the Pennsylvania crash site. A ceremony was also held at the Pentagon.
ATTACKS IN DETAIL href="/1/hi/world/5298746.stm" class="">How the towers fell href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/guides/456900/456983/html/default.stm" class="">The four hijacks In the evening, at 2100 local time, Mr Bush will make a formal TV address to the nation from the Oval Office.
President George W Bush, accompanied by first lady Laura Bush, attended a ceremony at Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where United Flight 93 crashed to the ground after passengers tried to retake the aircraft. 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.
Despite cold rain, the president moved among relatives of the 40 people killed there, shaking hands and offering words of condolence.
Earlier, in New York, he observed the memorial silences at a fire station among colleagues of the hundreds of firefighters who died during the rescue operation.
MAIN US EVENTS Ground Zero ceremony began at 0840 local (1240 GMT)Four silences, 0846, 0903, 0959, 1029Family memorial ceremony at Pentagon, 0900Wreath-laying at Shanksville, Pennsylvania, 1535President Bush to address nation, 2100 (0100 GMT Tues) In pictures: 9/11 memorials New al-Qaeda warningMAIN US EVENTS Ground Zero ceremony began at 0840 local (1240 GMT)Four silences, 0846, 0903, 0959, 1029Family memorial ceremony at Pentagon, 0900Wreath-laying at Shanksville, Pennsylvania, 1535President Bush to address nation, 2100 (0100 GMT Tues) In pictures: 9/11 memorials New al-Qaeda warning
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.
'Together as one'
At Ground Zero, the footprint of the World Trade Center, 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.At Ground Zero, the footprint of the World Trade Center, 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.
ATTACKS IN DETAIL How the towers fell The four hijacks
A second silence at 0903 marked the moment that a second plane hit the south tower, and two more at 0959 and 1029 marked the times the two towers collapsed.A second silence at 0903 marked the moment that a second plane hit the south tower, and two more at 0959 and 1029 marked the times the two towers collapsed.
At Ground Zero, some relatives simply read out the names of the dead, others gave short tributes. "We love you and we miss you, every day and forever," said one woman. Some relatives simply read out the names of the dead, others gave short tributes. "We love you and we miss you, every day and forever," said one woman.
Tributes Tearful families of the victims, some clutching photos of loved ones, floated flowers in a reflecting pool in remembrance of those who had died at the site.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and his predecessor, Rudolph Giuliani - who was in office five years ago - addressed the crowds. Mr Bush, accompanied by First Lady Laura Bush, observed the memorial silences at a fire station among colleagues of the hundreds of firefighters who died during the rescue operation.
He later attended a ceremony at Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where United Flight 93 crashed to the ground after passengers tried to retake the aircraft.
New Yorkers reflect on the attacks of 11 September 2001In pictures
Despite cold rain, the president moved among relatives of the 40 people killed there, shaking hands and offering words of condolence.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and his predecessor, Rudolph Giuliani - who was in office five years ago - addressed the New York crowds.
Mr Bloomberg said: "Five years have come and gone and we still stand together as one.Mr Bloomberg said: "Five years have come and gone and we still stand together as one.
href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/06/americas_new_york_voices/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/06/americas_new_york_voices/html/1.stm', '1157938354', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;">New Yorkers reflect on the attacks of 11 September 2001 href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/06/americas_new_york_voices/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/06/americas_new_york_voices/html/1.stm', '1157938354', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >In pictures "We come back to this place to remember the heart-breaking anniversary and each person who died here, those known and unknown to us, whose absence is always with us." "We come back to this place to remember the heart-breaking anniversary and each person who died here, those known and unknown to us, whose absence is always with us."
HAVE YOUR SAY 9/11 taught us the true brutality of terrorism J Fernando, Colombo Send us your comments US media on 9/11 aftermath International media review
Mr Giuliani said: "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."Mr Giuliani said: "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."
A memorial ceremony was also held at the Pentagon, where at least 179 people died when a third hijacked plane ploughed into the building.A memorial ceremony was also held at the Pentagon, where at least 179 people died when a third hijacked plane ploughed into the building.
Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's voice cracked as he paid tribute to Pentagon colleagues and servicemen who had been on the front line of US "war on terror" in the five years since the attacks.Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's voice cracked as he paid tribute to Pentagon colleagues and servicemen who had been on the front line of US "war on terror" in the five years since the attacks.
Al-Qaeda video
Mr Bush is due to visit the Pentagon later.
HAVE YOUR SAY 9/11 taught us the true brutality of terrorism J Fernando, Colombo Send us your comments US media on 9/11 aftermath International media review
In the evening, at 2100 local time, 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.
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.