Bush visits New York destruction

Mr Bush spends time with city fire-fighters

President George W Bush has arrived in New York to visit the wreckage of the World Trade Center for the first time since Tuesday's terrorist attacks.

He had earlier attended a memorial service at the national cathedral in Washington to commemorate those killed in the attacks.

Religious services are being held across the nation on what has been declared a day of "prayer and remembrance" to honour the thousands who died when hijacked airliners crashed into the twin towers in New York and the Pentagon.

To the children and parents and spouses and families of the lost, we offer you the deepest sympathy of the nation and I assure you, you are not alone

President Bush

Addressing the congregation, President Bush said the country had been attacked with deliberate and massive cruelty.

He offered the nation's deepest sympathy to the relatives of those who died.

War, he said, had been waged against America by stealth, and it would react at an hour of its choosing.

Silence at Nato headquarters in Brussels

Another speaker was Muzammil H Siddiqi, of the Islamic Society of North America, who spoke of "tears and broken hearts" since the attacks.

The service is one of many that have been held across the world. In Europe, millions of people joined a three-minute silent tribute.

In other developments:

• The US Department of Justice on Friday releases the names of 19 suspected hijackers
• President Bush approves the call-up of up to 50,000 army reserves to help recovery and security efforts.
• Investigators find flight recorders from the hijacked airliners which crashed into the Pentagon and in Pennsylvania
• A $40bn emergency package to finance aid for New York and the Washington area as well as counter-terrorism measures, is approved by the US Senate
• Pakistan considers a request that the US military should be allowed access to its territory and airspace - but fails to come up with a firm response
• Washington rules that only US airlines will be allowed into American airspace for the time being - foreign carriers will be allowed in only after they adopt strict new security measures

In one of many ceremonies held around the world, Queen Elizabeth of Britain, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and leading US dignitaries attended a remembrance service in London's St Paul's cathedral, while thousands took part outside.

Mourners join a remembrance service in Kenya

The sombre mood in London, where many workers in the financial services sector had colleagues who perished in the World Trade Center, was reflected elsewhere around Europe.

Irish President Mary McAleese said Irish people were "sad, sickened, outraged and frightened" by the terrorist attacks.

The queue of people waiting to sign the condolences book at the US embassy in Dublin on Friday morning was about 1.5 kilometres long.

In Brussels, hundreds of office workers joined the president of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, and Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt in a simple outdoor ceremony at the heart of the European Union district.

Tears for the dead in Lisbon

Politicians stood with heads bowed and when the three minutes ended, embraced their colleagues.

Up to 200,000 people gathered at the Brandenberg Gate in Berlin for a ceremony designed the show solidarity with the American people.

In France the lifts in the Eiffel Tower were still.

In Kenya, mourners paid their respects at a service in Nairobi, where more than 200 people died in the bombing of the US embassy three years ago.

Death toll

All 266 on board the four planes

About 190 feared dead at the Pentagon

94 bodies found at the World Trade Center

Up to 5,000 feared dead

Nearly 100 Britons confirmed dead

At least 259 rescue workers missing, feared dead

South Korea, host to nearly 40,000 American troops, signalled the start of a minute's silence with wailing sirens.

Canada also declared a national day of mourning. Prime Minister Jean Chretien said the day "will show the solidarity we feel towards our American friends and the families of the Canadian victims.

The ceremonies are taking place amid the biggest manhunt in US history.

The scale of the US search for those behind the attacks is unprecedented.

The task of searching through tons of rubble continues

The authorities are throwing all their resources at the case - more than 4,000 FBI special agents, with more than 3,000 support staff.

The FBI has been following up hundreds of leads and conducted searches across the country.

Secretary of State Colin Powell has said the exiled Saudi militant Osama Bin Laden - based in Afghanistan - is a prime suspect in the attacks. But US officials said more than one organisation may have been responsible.

President Bush has promised that America will "lead the world to victory" over terrorism in a conflict he described as the first war of the 21st century.

Bin Laden: The world's most wanted terrorism suspect

"Make no mistake about it, my resolve is steady and strong about winning this war that has been declared on America," he said.

Mr Bush also said Americans should resist any temptation to retaliate for the attacks by targeting individual, innocent Arab-Americans and Muslims.

In London, Prime Minister Blair addressed an emergency session of parliament on Friday.

He reaffirmed his commitment to stand by the United States and spoke of the urgent need to bring those responsible to justice.

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