Bush recieves rousing welcome at disaster site

President George W Bush received a rousing welcome in New York tonight from rescue workers and firefighters searching through the carnage of Tuesday’s attacks on the World Trade Centre.

President Bush looked gaunt but smiled as he met and shook hands with rescue services staff. He was wearing a raincoat but did not wear a hard hat like the emergency workers.

He was accompanied by Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, wearing a blue jacket and baseball cap, and several US Senators.

Former First Lady Hillary Clinton - whose daughter Chelsea was just 12 blocks away on Tuesday when the jets slammed into the twin towers - was greeted with an embrace by the Mayor.

The President mounted a pile of rubble holding a loudspeaker to make a short speech and the group of rescue workers broke into chants of ‘‘USA, USA, USA!’’ and ‘‘Don’t let them get away!’’

Mr Bush said: ‘‘As we mourn our loss I would like you all to know that America today is on bended knee in prayer for the people who lost their lives here, to the workers who worked here, for the families who mourn.

‘‘The nation stands with the good people of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut as we mourn the loss of thousands of our citizens.’’

One of the workers interrupted: ‘‘We can’t hear you.’’

President Bush replied to cheers and chants: ‘‘Well I can hear you. The whole world can hear you. And the people who knocked down these buildings will hear all of us soon.’’

He continued: ‘‘The nation shares its love. Thank you for your hard work. Thank you for making the nation proud and may God bless America.’’