US dedicates new memorial ahead of 9/11's 10th anniversary

The US Saturday dedicated a new national memorial to commemorate the victims of United Airlines Flight 93 who were killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

The memorial is dedicated to those who were killed after the plane, hijacked in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, was crashed into fields of Shanksville, Pennsylvania, in 2001, Xinhua reported.

The memorial, with first phase being finished, stood on the very site where United Airlines Flight 93 had crashed on the morning of Sep 11.

Thousands of people, including families of the victims and visitors, gathered for Saturday's dedication.

Vice President Joe Biden, along with former American presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton were present at the ceremony.

While addressing the dedication, Biden honoured the 40 victims of Flight 93, and Bush reminded the audience that 9/11 terrorist attacks demonstrated events that happen elsewhere can have an impact at home.

Legislation to build the memorial was introduced as early as 2002 in the US Congress, but years later, it's still unfinished, and hampered by a lack of funds.