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US marks seventh 9/11 anniversary US marks seventh 9/11 anniversary
(about 5 hours later)
Memorial services are set to be held to mark the seventh anniversary of the 11 September 2001 attacks on the US. Memorial services are set to be held to mark the seventh anniversary of the 11 September 2001 attacks.
Nearly 3,000 people were killed when four planes were hijacked and flown into New York's World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania.Nearly 3,000 people were killed when four planes were hijacked and flown into New York's World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania.
The presidential candidates, Barack Obama and John McCain, will attend a ceremony at Ground Zero in New York.The presidential candidates, Barack Obama and John McCain, will attend a ceremony at Ground Zero in New York.
At the Pentagon, a new memorial will be dedicated by President George W Bush for the 184 people who died there. At the Pentagon, President George W Bush will dedicate a new memorial for the 184 people who died there.
The memorial in Washington was built at a cost of $22m (£12.6m; 15.8m euros) on a 1.9-acre (0.77-hectare) parcel of land within view of the crash site. The memorial in Washington was built at a cost of $22m (£12.6m) on a 1.9-acre (0.77-hectare) parcel of land within view of the crash site.
Mr Bush will head to the ceremony shortly after standing for a moment of silence on the South Lawn of the White House at 0846 (1246 GMT) - the time that the first of the two passenger planes hit the World Trade Center. Mr Bush will attend the New York ceremony after standing for a moment of silence on the South Lawn of the White House at 0846 (1246 GMT) - the time that the first of the two passenger planes hit the World Trade Center.
9/11: THE NEW FRONTIER Mapping the militant nexusNew patterns of militancyVoices from unstable borders More coverage throughout the day on BBC World News and BBC World Service
It is the last time Mr Bush marks the anniversary as president.
The attacks are regarded as the defining moment of his time in office so far, and they had a huge impact on the foreign policy of his administration.
"The president thinks about 9/11 every single day when he wakes up and before he goes to bed," White House press secretary Dana Perino said on Wednesday."The president thinks about 9/11 every single day when he wakes up and before he goes to bed," White House press secretary Dana Perino said on Wednesday.
'Put aside politics''Put aside politics'
Senators Obama and McCain, the Democratic and Republican nominees in November's election, will appear together at Ground Zero in the afternoon to lay wreathes in honour of the victims.Senators Obama and McCain, the Democratic and Republican nominees in November's election, will appear together at Ground Zero in the afternoon to lay wreathes in honour of the victims.
All of us came together on 9/11 - not as Democrats or Republicans Joint statement by Barack Obama and John McCain
In a joint statement from the campaigns announcing their decision to visit Ground Zero together, the two men vowed to come together "as Americans" and suspend their political campaigns for 24 hours.In a joint statement from the campaigns announcing their decision to visit Ground Zero together, the two men vowed to come together "as Americans" and suspend their political campaigns for 24 hours.
"All of us came together on 9/11 - not as Democrats or Republicans - but as Americans," the statement said. "In smoke-filled corridors and on the steps of the Capitol; at blood banks and at vigils - we were united as one American family."All of us came together on 9/11 - not as Democrats or Republicans - but as Americans," the statement said. "In smoke-filled corridors and on the steps of the Capitol; at blood banks and at vigils - we were united as one American family.
11 September 2001 is a day many around the world will never forget 9/11: The four hijacksIn graphics: How towers fell
"We will put aside politics and come together to renew that unity, to honour the memory of each and every American who died, and to grieve with the families and friends who lost loved ones," it said."We will put aside politics and come together to renew that unity, to honour the memory of each and every American who died, and to grieve with the families and friends who lost loved ones," it said.
Their appearance is to be followed by another in the evening at a Columbia University forum to discuss their views on public service.Their appearance is to be followed by another in the evening at a Columbia University forum to discuss their views on public service.
The ceremony in downtown Manhattan will pause four times for silence - at 0846, 0903, 0959, 1029 - marking the times when the planes hit the Twin Towers, and the times when each tower fell. The ceremony in downtown Manhattan will mark the times when the planes hit the Twin Towers, and the times when each tower fell - pausing for silence at 0846, 0903, 0959 and 1029.
11 September 2001 is a day many around the world will never forget 9/11: The four hijacksIn graphics: How towers fell
Family members and students representing the 90 countries that lost people in the attacks will also read out the names of all the 2,973 dead.Family members and students representing the 90 countries that lost people in the attacks will also read out the names of all the 2,973 dead.
Seven years after the attacks which shocked the world, Ground Zero is a construction site.Seven years after the attacks which shocked the world, Ground Zero is a construction site.
After years of delays and disagreements over how to commemorate the dead, work has finally begun on a memorial and a new skyscraper - the "Freedom Tower" - which is due to be completed by 2012. After years of delays and disagreements over how to commemorate the dead, work has finally begun on a memorial and a new skyscraper - the Freedom Tower - which is due to be completed by 2012.
On Wednesday, New York mayor Michael Bloomberg called for the abolition of the WTC planning agency, saying the reconstruction was "frustratingly slow, owing in large part to a multilayered governance structure that has undermined accountability from the get-go". On Wednesday, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg called for the abolition of the WTC planning agency, saying the reconstruction was "frustratingly slow, owing in large part to a multilayered governance structure that has undermined accountability from the get-go".
"Most important, the memorial must be completed by the 10th anniversary. No more excuses, no more delays," he added."Most important, the memorial must be completed by the 10th anniversary. No more excuses, no more delays," he added.
New York State Governor David Paterson said he also shared "a sense of disappointment and frustration at the unacceptable pace of the Ground Zero rebuilding".New York State Governor David Paterson said he also shared "a sense of disappointment and frustration at the unacceptable pace of the Ground Zero rebuilding".
On the eve of the anniversary, a top US military commander warned that new tactics were needed to win the conflict in Afghanistan, which the US and its allies invaded three months after 9/11.
They intended to topple the Taleban regime and root out Osama Bin Laden, who the US believes masterminded the attacks.
Admiral Mike Mullen believes insurgents are launching attacks from neighbouring Pakistan, and US-led forces must target their "safe havens" in that country.
"In my view, these two nations are inextricably linked in a common insurgency that crosses the border between them," he said.
Pakistan has refused to allow foreign troops to fight on to its territory.


What are your thoughts on this anniversary? Are you attending any 9/11 memorial ceremonies? Send us your comments and reflections using the form below.What are your thoughts on this anniversary? Are you attending any 9/11 memorial ceremonies? Send us your comments and reflections using the form below.
Send your memorial pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.Read the terms and conditions Send your memorial pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.Read the terms and conditions
At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.
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