New beginnings for Manhattan tower

The foundations of the Freedom Tower, the replacement for the Twin Towers destroyed in the September 11th terror attack, have been laid at Ground Zero as part of a ceremony in New York

Three steel columns were laid at the perimeter of the structure, which will eventually be 1,776 ft high – the figure marking the date of the Declaration of Independence – and, if the spire and antenna are included, will become the world's tallest office building.

The columns were imprinted with signatures of victims' relatives, Virginian steelworkers and politicians, along with photographs of some of the fire-fighters who died five years ago.

New York governor George Pataki told a large crowd at the ceremony: "Today the steel rises, the Freedom Tower rises from the ashes of September 11th and the people of New York and the people of America can be proud."

When finished, the tower will include 2.6 million square feet of office space, an observation deck and parade of restaurants.