A spokesman for former U.S. president George W. Bush says he has declined an invitation to join President Barack Obama in New York City Thursday for an observance at the site of the destroyed World Trade Center.
The spokesman said Mr. Bush appreciates the invitation but chooses to remain out of the spotlight now that his presidency is over.
Mr. Obama is scheduled to meet with families of some of the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center on Thursday, days after a U.S. Navy SEALs assault killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden in Pakistan.
The September 11 attacks, carried out by al-Qaida, killed some 3,000 people in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania.
