A year after Hurricane Katrina devastated parts of Louisiana and Mississippi, residents mourned their losses on what was designated a national day of remembrance.

Mourners gathered to pay tribute to nearly 1,700 people who lost their lives in the devastating storm.

In New Orleans, bells tolled to mark the moment one of the city's flood walls was breached.

Wreaths were thrown into the water at each of the city's broken levees. At this one on the Industrial Canal, hundreds of mourners danced, sang and openly wept.

It was a day of raw emotion for many.

In the Mississippi town of Gulfport, firefighters and police officers carried 14 red roses - one for each of those that died in their community.

But there were signs of a return to normality in another Mississippi town, Biloxi, with the re-opening of one of its casinos.

President Bush joined the commemorations in New Orleans. He said he took full responsibility for the government response that "fell short".

But that is small comfort to many who remain without homes and prospects a year on from the disaster.