The BBC's Cathy Jenkins reports: "Today has been declared a national day of mourning in Kenya"

A minute's silence was held in memory of the dead and injured at 1040 local time, the exact time of the Kenyan blast.

In the Tanzanian capital, Dar es Salaam, the occasion was marked with a ceremony at the site where a new embassy is to be built.

More than 200 people - most of them Kenyans - were killed in two bombings in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam on 7 August 1998. About 5,000 people were injured.

In Kenya, Saturday was declared a national day of mourning.

Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi said that while the target had undoubtedly been the embassy, the perpetrators had known that many Kenyans would be killed.

"Why choose Kenya? What is Kenya guilty of?" the president lamented. He said most of the victims were people "whose universe does not extend beyond Kenya's borders."

'Innocent victims'

US charge d'affaires Michael Marine, who represented the US embassy, said both Kenya and the US were innocent victims.

The BBC's Cathy Jenkins reports: "Many people were close to tears"

"They were victims of those whose real agenda is violence and destruction," he said.

Hanisa Mwilu wept as she remembered her husband who was killed in the blast.

"I can't describe how I feel, it's so bad," said Mrs Mwilu, who attended the ceremony with her four-year-old daughter.

Many others were close to tears as they listened to representatives of different religious denominations offer prayers.

BBC correspondent Cathy Jenkins, who is in Nairobi, says the memory of what happened one year ago is still strong among Kenyans, many of whom rushed to help when the emergency services couldn't cope.

The service was followed by a procession to the city's Uhuru Park for a "Global Peace Rally" led by American evangelist Kilari Anand Paul.

New embassy

Saturday is a day of national mourning

In Dar es Salaam, the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Patsy Thomasson, US Ambassador Charles Stith and Tanzanian Foreign Affairs Ministry permanent secretary Elly Mtango symbolically broke ground at the site where a new embassy is to be built.

Mr Stith said the building would be "a testament to our tenacity in the face of terrorism, a symbol of our resolve to stand up for democratic values and a statement of our commitment to our relationship with the people of Tanzania."

Another ceremony is being held in Washington for the victims, who included 12 Americans.

The US has blamed the attack on the militant Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden and has offered a $5m reward for his capture.

Seeking justice

President Clinton said on Friday that the US would track down those responsible for the attack.

The US Government has renewed a warning to its nationals worldwide to show extra vigilance for the anniversary.