Washington, September 10
As Americans pay tribute to the nearly 3,000 victims of the September 11, 2001, attacks tomorrow, at the back of everyone’s mind will be the thought of terror mastermind Osama bin Laden still roaming free and the rising toll of their soldiers in Iraq.

The Republican administration will be marking the fifth anniversary of the terror attacks, which forever changed the lives and the direction of the American people, with solemn ceremonies.

President George W. Bush will lead the commemorations that will take him first to New York and Ground Zero to be followed by simple ceremonies at Pennsylvania and the Pentagon. The start of the two-day ceremonies begins today with a wreath laying at Ground Zero.

The President has asked for flags to be flown at half mast and for people to observe a moment of silence at 8:46 am tomorrow, the exact time when the first of the two jets struck the World Trade Center in New York.

Mr Bush will lay a wreath at Pennsylvania where the third jet crashed after passengers fought with the hijackers and then make his way to the Pentagon.

For the fifth time in his presidency, Mr Bush will deliver an address to the nation from the White House in the evening. — PTI