People from many European countries were killed in the attack on the World Trade Center in New York last year.

In Russia, we say that time heals everything, but there are things that we cannot forget and which must not be forgotten

President Putin

European leaders were attending a series of official services, vigils and commemorations to mark the event, with a minute's silence observed in many countries.

In Russia, President Vladimir Putin called US President George W Bush on Wednesday morning to express his sympathy and support to the American people

"In Russia, we say that time heals everything, but there are things that we cannot forget and which must not be forgotten," he said in televised remarks.

European victims

UK - 67 Germany - 16 Italy - 13 Ukraine - 11 Poland - 8 Russia - 8 Ireland - 7 Yugoslavia - 6 France - 4 Belgium - 1 Holland - 1

In an emotional tribute to the victims of 11 September, French President Jacques Chirac told a ceremony at the heavily guarded US Embassy in Paris that "France knows what it owes America".

"The French people stand with all their hearts at the side of the American people," Mr Chirac said at the gathering with US Ambassador Howard Leach and 300 guests.

A spectacular tribute was being paid in Paris on Tuesday and Wednesday night, with blue streams in the shape of the Twin Towers beamed 400 metres into the sky from Paris city hall.

Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin will attend a ceremony at Paris's American Cathedral at 1930 (1730 GMT).

In London, the day began with a memorial service at the US embassy

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who earlier said Berlin was committed to its friendship with Washington despite differences over Iraq, attended a service at the candle-filled Berlin cathedral with President Johannes Rau.

In Brussels, the European Union and Nato were preparing two separate ceremonies, with the US Stars and Stripes raised alongside the flags of EU member states outside the European parliament.

In London, the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, members of the royal family and representatives of all the main minority faiths joined relatives of the British victims of the attack on New York for a service at St Paul's Cathedral.

No feelings of frustration, no philosophy or religion can justify such an aberration

Pope John Paul II

At the Vatican, Pope John Paul II condemned "barbarous and cruel" terrorism in his weekly general audience, but also urged those who planned the four jet attacks to examine their conscience.

"No feelings of frustration, no philosophy or religion can justify such an aberration," he told 7,000 faithful gathered to hear his weekly address.

In Rome, a commemorative concert will be held in the Colosseum.

In Ireland, President Mary McAleese praised Americans for their resilience and courage. Prime Minister Bertie Ahern was also scheduled to attend a special mass at Dublin's Pro-Cathedral.

Traders' silence

Stock exchanges across Europe also observed two minutes' silence at 1246 GMT in memory of the more than 3,000 people, some of whom were friends and colleagues of traders in Europe.

Vienna and Lisbon are among more than 100 cities around the hosting a "Rolling Requiem" of Mozart's funeral mass relayed across time zones from its starting point in New Zealand.

A number of parliaments across the continent - including those of Russia and Poland - are remembering the victims.

The US Ambassador in Moscow, Alexander Vershbow, who attended a church service in Moscow in memory of the victims, said al-Qaeda agents may be operating in Chechnya.

This is the first time an American official has said so.

"We both have been confronting terrorism that has an international dimension, and I think we know that al-Qaeda has been involved in supporting the separatists in Chechnya," he said.