World united in grief

From the President of the United States and the Queen of England to the ordinary man and woman in the street, they remembered those who died in the attacks on New York and Washington.

Capital cities and tiny villages ground to a halt as people paid emotional and silent tribute to the thousands who perished.

Amid the sorrow, there were clear signs last night that America was gearing up for war with largescale troop movements and the mass mobilisation of reservists.

In London, more than 2,000 people including the Queen and Prime Minister Tony Blair gathered at St Paul's Cathedral to sing the American national anthem. Thousands more were turned away from the special service of remembrance.

The Archbishop of Canterbury told the congregation that those responsible for Tuesday's "barbaric acts" must be held to account, but added: "We must be guided by higher goals than mere revenge."

At a prayer service in Washington National Cathedral, President George W Bush said: "This nation is peaceful but fierce when stirred to anger.

"This conflict was begun in timing and terms of others. It will end in a way and at an hour of our choosing."

Most European nations observed a three-minute silence. At the stroke of 11am, the UK showed its determination to stand alongside the people of the US.

Public transport was halted, traffic came to a standstill, office workers sat in silent tribute and huge crowds joined vigils across the country.

The tragic human cost of the terrorist attacks in America was remembered in every town, village and city across the North-East and North Yorkshire.

In Darlington, shoppers and workers stood side-by-side in the Market Place, their heads bowed in silence.

At Catterick Garrison, in North Yorkshire, troops stood rigidly to attention, while American civilians and military personnel at Menwith Hill US spy base, near Harrogate, joined a service held at their chapel. Flags were at half mast and flowers with messages of sympathy had been placed at the entrance.

In Harrogate itself, a maroon was launched to signal the start of the three minute silence, while in Stockton, the Reverend Philip Ashdown, chaplain of University of Durham, Stockton Campus, paid tribute to lost loved ones.

In Middlesbrough, firefighters in helmets and full kit stood in line along the town centre Boulevard for a service.

The town's mayor, Pat Walker, remembered the self sacrifice of the New York firefighters and police killed when the World Trade Centre collapsed.

She told the crowd: "Their example and the countless acts of courage are a reminder that whatever evil is inflicted on free and decent people, the values and liberties which they cherish will never be overthrown."

Hundreds gathered in Durham Cathedral to pay their respects.

Among them were Jean and Lee Dundy, US tourists from Atlanta stranded in Britain because of the flight delays. Mrs Dundy said: "We don't know anyone who was involved but we wanted to come here just to say how sorry we are."

Candles burned in memory of the dead and prayers were offered for the victims and their families.

In Paris, French President Jacques Chirac stood to attention in front of a military honour guard at the Elysee Palace, where the Republican Guard played The Star-Spangled Banner.

In Berlin, a sign laid on top of white roses and carnations in front of the US Embassy harkened back to the words of solidarity which President John F Kennedy delivered to residents in the then divided city in 1963: "Ich bin ein Berliner."

It read: "We're all New Yorkers."

Stock exchanges all over the world stopped business for three minutes, many of the traders remembering friends and colleagues lost when the twin towers collapsed.

The global day of grief began in Asia, where sirens blared for one minute in South Korea and children appeared outside the American Embassy in Seoul.

Some knelt before the building, closed their eyes and prayed silently. Others placed flowers to honour those who died.

In Hungary, firefighters tied black ribbons on their vehicles in sympathy and solidarity with the American firefighters killed in the disaster.

Last night, President Bush arrived in New York to survey the carnage of Tuesday's attack. Security was tight as the he met rescue and emergency workers.

The President told them he had been reluctant to come sooner because he was concerned he might get in the way of the rescue effort.

Three days after the attacks, only a handful of survivors have been found in the rubble, and fewer than 100 bodies have been recovered. Thousands more remain buried.

Earlier, President Bush approved the call-up of thousands of reservists, and Congress rushed to approve a £28bn down payment for the struggle.

The US is asking Pakistan for permission to let warplanes fly through its territory if air strikes are ordered against terrorist targets in neighbouring Afghanistan