World remembers along with America

The world was almost united today as people around the globe reflected on last year’s terror attacks against the United States.

RUSSIA

President Vladimir Putin called President George Bush to express his country’s condolences on the terrorist attacks a year ago.

“In Russia, they say that time cures, but there are things we cannot forget, we must not forget,” Putin said.

An Orthodox memorial service was held at St Catherine’s Cathedral in Moscow, and hundreds attended a service at St Petersburg’s Kazan Cathedral.

MPs observed a minute’s silence on their first day back at work at the State Duma after their summer recess.

IRAQ

The attacks were today remembered in Iraq as “God’s punishment” of America .

The front page of the state-owned Al-Iktisadi newspaper was covered with a photograph of a burning World Trade Centre Tower and a two word headline in red: “God’s punishment.”

Another paper said the lesson the US should draw from September 11 was that its policies inspired hatred.

“Events like September 11 are sad but it is an opportunity for the American people to feel what bombing could do to nations,” said Ali Ahmed, a 47-year-old Baghdad shopkeeper. “How would an American feel towards somebody who wants to change his government?”

ISRAEL

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon compared the attacks to Palestinian terrorism against Israeli civilians.

“Bin Laden’s suicide terror” was “inseparable” from the acts of Palestinian militants, he said. They were “components of that same ‘axis of evil”’.

AFGHANISTAN

A twenty minute service was held at Bagram Air Base, headquarters of the US military in Afghanistan.

“Those of you who are here on this battlefield, you are the heroes and heroines of today. It is you to whom your nation owes it’s gratitude,” Lieutenant General Dan McNeill told the 200 soldiers at the ceremony.

At the Kandahar Air Base in the south, a ceremony planned for 100 troops ballooned to 500 as soldiers rushed to end their daily tasks to attend the service.

FRANCE

In an emotional tribute, President Jacques Chirac told a ceremony at the heavily guarded US embassy in Paris that “France knows what it owes America. The French people stad with all their hearts at the side of the American people.”

On September 11, “liberty and fraternity were wounded,” Chirac said, vowing “to fight against international terrorism and combat without respite barbarity and the forces of evil.”

GERMANY

Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder called for the international anti-terror coalition to persevere.

“This coalition must continue because peace is still a long way off,” Schroeder told his Cabinet in Berlin. “The threat of international terrorism remains. He later joined the US ambassador for a service at the Berliner Dom cathedral.

BELGIUM

Top Nato and EU officials expressed their solidarity with the United States. “It is still shocking today,” said Pat Cox, the president of the European Parliament.

European Commission President Romano Prodi said the attacks “did not strike America alone,” but “struck at the values that all civilised nations on Earth hold dear.”

Hundreds of people joined the officials outside of the parliament buildings in Brussels. At the same time at Nato headquarters, staff, ambassadors and office workers, stood outside the alliance building in drizzle to mark their own commemoration.

“A year ago, we watched in horror as terrorism struck at the heart of a Nato member country,” said Secretary General Lord Robertson.

NEW ZEALAND

Prime Minister Helen Clark said the date September 11 “has been forever etched into our memories. The world will never forget.”

AUSTRALIA

At Surfers Paradise, a popular resort, dozens of people led by firefighters and ambulance staff formed a human stars and stripes flag on the beach.

“It is a sacred time,” said Queensland fireman Barry Brazel.

JAPAN

At Tokyo’s stock market, screens on the exchange trading floor carried a message of renewed prayer and condolence.

“I spent a year studying in the US and it is not someone else’s problem,” said 18-year-old student Megumi Hirokawa at a small ceremony outside the US embassy.

SOUTH KOREA

About 150 diplomats, US businessmen and servicemen joined government officials, politicians and religious leaders for a 30 minute memorial service on the lawn of the US ambassador’s residence.

SOUTH POLE

In addition to 180 choirs in 20 time zones launching a Rolling Rendition of Mozart’s Requiem, US researchers at the South Pole also played the music at their isolated base.

KENYA

Speakers at a Nairobi memorial evoked the memory of the 1998 US embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania. The blasts killed 231 people - including 12 Americans - and wounded more than 5,000.

“Kenya was the victim of a terror attack,” said Health Minister Sam Ongeri. “Kenyans can sympathise with the victims of September 11.”

NORWAY

Firefighters and other emergency officials were to join an evening ceremony outside Oslo city hall, lighting more than 3,000 torches for the people killed in the attacks.

VATICAN CITY

The Pope said today that nothing can justify “such an aberration” as the attacks, but also asked for mercy and a pardon for the terrorists.

The pontiff told 8,000 pilgrims: “Terrorism is and always will be a show of inhuman ferocity. It will never be able to solve conflicts among human beings. We need to interrogate the conscience of whoever planned and carried out such a barbarous and cruel design.”

A special Mass for firefighters was held in a Rome basilica.

KOSOVO

Premier Bajram Rexhepi said his government was committed to supporting the US and “other countries in their war against the dark force that attacked world civilisation”.

Kosovans lit candles on the streets of many towns.

“I have come out to light a candle to express my solidarity with the American people and especially with American children,” said eight-year-old Visar Rrahmani in Pristina.

GREECE

Greeks marked what Premier Costas Simitis described as an “attack by the forces of darkness against civilisation” with a series of memorial services and concerts.

Simitis said the attacks marked the day when uncertainty for the future “became a common feeling for people and nations around the world”.

SOUTH AFRICA

About 50 protesters marked the anniversary with a demonstration against the United States.

They chanted: “Behind every Bush is a terrorist,” and “Forward Bin Laden,” in Zulu outside the US consulate in Cape Town. Some carried placards calling the attacks “self-inflicted because of US greed.”