NEW YORK, Aug 16 (AFP) - Parents and grandparents of relatives killed in the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center will read the names of victims to mark the tragedy's third anniversary, New York officials announced Monday.
The ceremony will take place at Ground Zero, where the twin towers once stood, and will begin with a minute of silence at 8:46 am (1246 GMT), the exact time when the first hijacked airplane struck the North Tower.
After the moment of silence, the names of New York's more than 2,700 victims will be read, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and New York state Governor George Pataki said in a statement.
During last year's ceremony, children of victims read the names.
This year, 200 parents and grandparents will be selected by lottery to take part in the ceremony.
The reading will be interrupted for three more moments of silence: at 9:03 am (1303 GMT) to mark the South Tower attack; at 9:59 am (1359 GMT) for the collapse of the South Tower; and at 10:29 am (1429 GMT) for the destruction of the North Tower on September 11, 2001.
"As we approach this third anniversary and continue to rebuild our city by reclaiming our skyline through the Freedom Tower, and building a fitting memorial, we are reminded that all that we do to renew lower Manhattan is done in tribute to the lives we lost," Pataki said.
The Freedom Tower and memorial will be built at Ground Zero.
Bloomberg said: "This anniversary, the hearts and minds of our city, our country and freedom-loving people from around the world, will again turn toward the World Trade Center site. We are forever mindful of the grief still felt by the families and heartfelt in our desire to honor the heroes of that day."