New York: The world paused on September 11 to remember the victims of the September 11 attacks two years ago, but also to reflect that terrorism is an ever-present danger as chief terror suspect Osama bin Laden praised the attacks in new video footage.

Compared to last year's closely followed, emotional commemorations, today's second anniversary from Ground Zero in New York was to be a low-key affair.

However, there is also a persistent sense of insecurity and fear of further attacks around the globe, especially in New York, which has remained on heightened terrorist alert for the past two years.

Such concerns will have been heightened by the airing on September 10, on the eve of the anniversary, of what Qatar-based al-Jazeera television said was the latest videotape of al-Qaida chief bin Laden and his right-hand man Ayman al-Zawahri.

In the tape, Laden praised the "loyalty, sincerity, magnanimity and courage" of the suicide hijackers who crashed airliners into the World Trade Centre's twin towers, the Pentagon near Washington and a field in Pennsylvania.

Al-Zawahri also called on Iraqis to "devour" their American occupiers, warning the real battle with the United States has yet to begin.

"Rely on God and devour the Americans, like lions devour their prey. Bury them in the Iraqi graveyard," Zawahri told Iraqis.

Agencies