Mayor Giuliani bows out

New Yorkers will be saying goodbye this weekend to the man who has guided them through the darkest hours in the city's history.

Mayor Rudolph Giuliani steps down at midnight on New Year's Eve after eight years of often controversial leadership that culminated in the 11 September terror attacks.

One of the his first acts as a private citizen is expected to be a visit to Buckingham Palace, where he will collect an honorary knighthood for helping Britons caught up in the World Trade Center disaster.

Mr Giuliani addressed supporters and staff for the last time outside the 18th century church of St Paul's, which survived the collapse of the nearby twin towers with not even a broken window.

He took full credit for reviving the city's fortunes during his term. Saying that New York used to be "the rotting apple", he said it was now strong and confident. "It's a city that has withstood the worst attack of any city in America. People are standing up as tall and as strong and as straight as this church.''

He also called for a "soaring beautiful memorial" on the site of the twin towers, where around 3,300 people died.

Mr Giuliani's previous aura of invincibility faded last year amid reports of police brutality, and he became embroiled in a messy and often bitter divorce from television personality Donna Hanover. But his tireless leadership after 11 September earned him the soubriquet "America's Mayor".

Republican Mike Bloomberg will take over as mayor in the first hours of Tuesday morning.

Mr Giuliani has said he would like to start his own business, but many observers believe he will eventually return to politics.