About 1,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan have marked the anniversary
of the September 11 attacks with a memorial ten kilometer run.
The
troops at Bagram Air Base donned their running shoes to commemorate the
day eight years ago when nearly 3,000 people died in terrorist attacks
against the U.S.
Meanwhile, world leaders are expressing sorrow
and support. In Russia, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said his country
mourns the victims of September 11. The Itar-Tass news agency quotes
Mr. Putin as saying the anniversary is a reminder to all countries to
set aside disputes and fight against the common threat of terrorism.
In
Kyrgyzstan, President Kurmanbek Bakiyev noted his country's
long-standing anti-terrorist efforts and its continuing readiness to
fight against terrorist threats and challenges.
Mr. Bakiyev
spoke at Manas Airport, outside the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, where the
United States operates a large air transit center in support of
military operations in Afghanistan.
The United States and
Kyrgyzstan signed an agreement two months ago to allow continued U.S.
use of the Manas Airport, in return for upgraded facilities at the
combined air base and commercial airport and increased rental payments
by Washington.
In New York eight years ago on September 11,
hijackers steered two large passenger jets into the twin towers of the
World Trade Center, which later collapsed. A third hijacked plane
crashed into the Pentagon (the central headquarters of the U.S.
military), and a fourth commandeered plane is believed to have been
bound for either the U.S. Capitol building or the White House. That
jet crashed in a farm field far from Washington - in Shanksville,
Pennsylvania - after passengers fought hijackers for control of the
plane.
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