Ananova :

America has come to a virtual standstill as people across the country stopped to pray for the thousands of victims of this week's terrorist attacks.

From coast to coast, church bells tolled and places of worship opened their doors for services.

The prayers were led by President Bush in Washington's National Cathedral that was attended by surviving former presidents.

Mr Bush had asked workplaces across the country to allow their employees time off to pray for the victims of the attacks, their families, and the rescuers still sorting through the debris in a desperate struggle to find survivors.

Only at the scenes of the three crashes, in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania, did work continue uninterrupted.

Mr Bush addressed the service and said: "We are here in the middle hour of our grief. We come before God to pray for the missing, the dead and for those who love them."

Dr Jane Holmes Dixon, pro-tempore bishop of Washington, opened the National Cathedral service and said: "Those of us who are gathered here, Muslim, Jew Christian, Sikh, Hindu Buddhist, people of faith, want to say to the world that love is stronger than fear and that love lived out in justice will in the end prevail."

The service included Islamic and Jewish speakers as well as Christians of all denominations, in a signal from Mr Bush that he does not want the Muslim community alienated.

In every major city in America, local leaders gathered in cathedrals, and churches, while mosques and synagogues opened their doors and held special services.

Millions took a break from work to go to places of worship and kneel in silence or take part in services.

Story filed: 19:24 Friday 14th September 2001

• Scotsman missing after Trade Centre attack 23:26 Friday 14th September 2001
• Bush looking gaunt on Trade Centre visit 22:51 Friday 14th September 2001
• More related stories

• Victims
• US terror attacks
• US
• World

• Victims
• US terror attacks

• E-mail this story to a friend

Need the latest breaking world headlines, direct from Ananova, on your website? Contact our syndication team