President Barack Obama has paid his tribute to five police officers killed in a deadly racial attack in Dallas. He said a memorial service in the city, that the United States must "try to find some meaning amidst our sorrow" and could unite.

Mr. Obama called the Americans of all races to show more unity and understanding during his address to an emotional memorial in the city.

Micah Johnson killed five Dallas officers last Thursday at a protest held over the recent police shootings of black men in Minnesota and Louisiana earlier in the week.
"It's hard not to think sometimes that the center might not hold, that things might get worse,'' Obama said. "We must reject such despair.''

“The deepest fault lines of our democracy have suddenly been exposed, perhaps even widened," Mr. Obama said.

"I'm here to say we must reject such despair. I'm here to insist that we are not as divided as we seem."

"I have spoken at too many memorials during the course of this presidency," he said with uncommon candor. "I've seen how a spirit of unity born of tragedy can gradually dissipate."

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"I've seen how inadequate words can be in bringing about lasting change. I've seen how inadequate my own words have been."

Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings, said that, "The soul of our city was pierced."

The service featured five portraits of the officers and five empty chairs. Ex-President George W Bush, praised the police and said that, "Their courage is our protection and shield."

"At times it feels like the forces pulling us apart are stronger than the forces binding us together,'' Bush said. "Too often we judge other groups by their worst examples, while judging ourselves by our best intentions. And this has strained our bonds of understanding and common purpose.''

Obama was accompanied with the first Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill. They are scheduled to hold a private meeting with the families of the victims.

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Nandini