This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/5333012.stm

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Bush lays wreath at Ground Zero Bush launches 9/11 remembrances
(about 1 hour later)
US President George W Bush has laid a wreath at Ground Zero, the site of New York's twin towers, ahead of the fifth anniversary of the 11 September attack.US President George W Bush has laid a wreath at Ground Zero, the site of New York's twin towers, ahead of the fifth anniversary of the 11 September attack.
He is shortly expected to attend a remembrance service at a nearby chapel.He is shortly expected to attend a remembrance service at a nearby chapel.
The events come as Mr Bush tries to defend his record on fighting terrorism in the run-up to November's mid-term Congressional elections.The events come as Mr Bush tries to defend his record on fighting terrorism in the run-up to November's mid-term Congressional elections.
Earlier, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the US was now safer than it was before the 2001 attacks.Earlier, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the US was now safer than it was before the 2001 attacks.
"I think it's clear that we are safer but not really yet safe," she said in an interview for the Fox News network. There were clouds over Ground Zero as Mr Bush, accompanied by his wife, Laura, walked down into the place where the towers had stood.
"We've done a lot... our ports are more secure, we have a much stronger intelligence-sharing operation." They placed floral wreaths upon ponds of water that mark both the north and south towers and then walked back up the ramp to street level as a bagpiper played.
TV address I think it's clear that we are safer but not really yet safe Condoleezza Rice The simple gesture marked the formal beginning of the US' commemorations of the attacks on Washington and New York in which almost 3,000 people died.
At precisely 0846 (1246 GMT) a minute's silence will be observed, recalling the exact moment when the first tower was hit.
Mr Bush is expected to observe that with firefighters involved in rescue operations five years ago, whom he will be joining for breakfast.
At Ground Zero relatives of the 2,973 people who died will read out their names, pausing only to recall the time when the second tower was hit and when both structures collapsed.
Ratings war
Mr Bush will also visit the Pentagon, hit by a third plane, and the Pennsylvania crash site of the hijacked United Airlines Flight 93.
On Monday evening he is expected to make a formal TV address to the nation.
Mr Bush's ratings soared after the attacks five years ago but have declined with the war in Iraq and amid questions over the administration's conduct of the so-called war on terror.Mr Bush's ratings soared after the attacks five years ago but have declined with the war in Iraq and amid questions over the administration's conduct of the so-called war on terror.
On Monday, Mr Bush is expected to meet firefighters involved in rescue operations at the twin towers after hijacked passenger planes were flown into them. In an interview with the Fox News network, Ms Rice defended the Bush administration's actions, saying that the US was more secure now than five years ago.
He will also visit the Pentagon, hit by a third plane, and the Pennsylvania crash site of the hijacked United Airlines Flight 93. "I think it's clear that we are safer but not really yet safe," she said.
White House spokesman Tony Snow told Reuters news agency the president had prepared no formal remarks for the visits but would reflect on the anniversary in a formal TV address on Monday evening. "We've done a lot... our ports are more secure, we have a much stronger intelligence-sharing operation," she added.