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Dallas shooting: Obama pays tribute to slain officers Dallas shooting: Obama urges US to 'reject despair'
(35 minutes later)
President Barack Obama is attending a service in Dallas to pay tribute to the five police officers who were shot and killed during a deadly sniper attack. President Barack Obama has urged the US to "reject despair" as he paid tribute to five police officers killed during a deadly sniper attackin Dallas.
Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings spoke first at the memorial service and said: "The soul of our city was pierced." He told a memorial service in the city the US must "try to find some meaning amidst our sorrow" and could unite.
Ex-President George W Bush, a Texan, praised the police: "Their courage is our protection and shield." His trip came amid mounting racial tensions across the country.
Mr Obama's trip comes amid mounting racial tension across the country. Micah Johnson killed the Dallas officers at a protest held over the recent police shootings of African Americans in Minnesota and Louisiana.
Micah Xavier Johnson, 25, opened fire at a protest held over the recent police shootings of Philando Castile in Minnesota and Alton Sterling in Louisiana. Before he was killed by police, he said he was angry about the shootings.
He was killed by a bomb delivered by a police robot during a standoff with authorities. Meanwhile, protests over excessive police force against black Americans have been held in cities across the US.
But speaking at Morton H Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas on Tuesday, Mr Obama urged the country not to despair.
Americans are struggling with what has happened in the past week, he said, and events appeared to have revealed "the deepest fault line of our democracy".
"I'm here to say we must reject such despair. I'm here to insist that we are not as divided as we seem."
Live updates from the serviceLive updates from the service
Dallas police chief scarred by tragedyDallas police chief scarred by tragedy
Who were the victims?Who were the victims?
US police: 'We are not punching bags'US police: 'We are not punching bags'
The service featured five portraits of the officers and five empty chairs.
Ex-President George W Bush, a Texan, praised the police: "Their courage is our protection and shield."
And Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings, who spoke first, said: "The soul of our city was pierced."
First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, will also meet privately with the families of the victims on Wednesday.First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, will also meet privately with the families of the victims on Wednesday.
Analysis: Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, North America reporter
As Barack Obama often points out, he has had plenty of experience during his seven years as president consoling the nation following a mass-shooting tragedy. He has also been afforded numerous opportunities to comment on race relations and how it can adversely affect law enforcement in American society.
When he takes the stage in Dallas, however, Mr Obama will be in the delicate position of trying to navigate through waters roiled by all those issues at once. He will be expected to offer sympathy for the five officers who lost their lives at the hands of a black sniper enraged by recent episodes of perceived police brutality, while acknowledging that those episodes have created justifiable anger and resentment within the black community.
Mr Obama is a man of remarkable rhetorical skill, but his words and actions will be tested on Tuesday like few times in his administration. Solutions are neither quick nor easy, increasing the odds that no one will leave Dallas satisfied that another tragedy - whether at a police stop or in shots fired into an innocent crowd - is not lurking somewhere in the near future.
Dallas police have ramped up security ahead of the president's visit, enlisting help from the Arlington Police Department to work with Secret Security.Dallas police have ramped up security ahead of the president's visit, enlisting help from the Arlington Police Department to work with Secret Security.
The US has been on edge in the wake of the recent string of violence, with protests over police reform and race relations roiling across the country.The US has been on edge in the wake of the recent string of violence, with protests over police reform and race relations roiling across the country.
Mr Obama and Mr Biden on Monday met with law enforcement officials to discuss police reform and how to repair relations between police officers and the communities they protect.Mr Obama and Mr Biden on Monday met with law enforcement officials to discuss police reform and how to repair relations between police officers and the communities they protect.
The president, who cut short a trip to Europe over the recent violence, is expected to host a similar meeting on Wednesday in Dallas with law enforcement as well as local leaders and activists.The president, who cut short a trip to Europe over the recent violence, is expected to host a similar meeting on Wednesday in Dallas with law enforcement as well as local leaders and activists.