Special report: 5th anniversary of 9/11 terror attacks

    OTTAWA, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in eastern Canada's Nova Scotia province Monday to say thanks to local Canadians for helping stranded passengers after the 9/11 attacks.

    Rice took part in an afternoon ceremony at the Halifax International Airport to mark the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States, reports reaching here said.

    "You acted with skill and professionalism, despite the fact that no one could have been prepared for what was asked of you," Rice said to an audience made up of those who had helped host 21,000 passengers after air traffic was shut down over the United States in the wake of the attacks.

    Rice called Canada and the United States the "best of friends," saying a tragedy like 9/11 is a reminder that there's nothing like a friend.

    Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay, who received Rice, pledged to fight terrorism together with the Americans.

    Later in the day, Rice is scheduled to attend a memorial service at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic.

    She is also scheduled to travel to Stellarton, which is in MacKay's riding in the province, for a breakfast event on Tuesday morning. Enditem