WTC Missing May Soon Be Declared Dead

Sept. 24 -- The rescue mission continues in the ruins of New York's World Trade Center but the city has begun preparations to declare those still missing as legally dead.

New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani said today the families of thousands still missing since the terror attacks of Sept. 11 could apply for death certificates as soon as Wednesday if they chose.

"If they're ready by Wednesday, then they can deal with it by applying for a death certificate," he told a news conference.

New York Gov. George Pataki today signed an executive order speeding up the process for World Trade Center victims to get death certificates.

Giuliani said lawyers would be appointed to work free of charge with families to prepare affidavits and other documents needed to prove someone was in the buildings at the time of the attack. He insisted, however, that rescue efforts would continue.

No survivors have been pulled out of the wreckage since the day after two hijacked planes destroyed the twin towers of the World Trade Center, and 6,453 people remain missing. Rescuers have recovered 271 bodies, 206 of whom have been identified. Among them are 40 firefighters and seven other uniformed officers.

There are an additional 189 people missing or dead from the terrorist attack on the Pentagon the same day. A fourth hijacked plane went down in rural Pennsylvania, after passengers apparently tried to wrest control of the aircraft from the terrorists. All 44 on board were killed.

As he announced the option of applying for death certificates, Giuliani once again urged residents of the beleaguered city to resume their normal routines.

"The best way to get your children to not be afraid is to not be afraid yourself," the mayor implored residents.

Mayor Considers His Own Future

Giuliani is believed to be weighing whether to try to continue as the city's mayor, but refused to announce his decision today. Term-limit laws block his re-election.

The Republican mayor has drawn near-universal praise for his handling of the crisis, and his supporters hope to change the city's election laws or extend his current term.