.slides_container { position: relative; background: #000 url("../images/loading.gif") no-repeat 50% 50%; width: 100%; overflow: hidden; }

<script type="text/javascript" src="{THEME}/js/slides.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">
$(function(){
$('#slides').slides({
effect: 'fade',
play: 5000,
pause: 2500,
generatePagination: true,
preload: true,
hoverPause: true
});
});
</script>
<div class="slider">
<div class="container">
<div id="slides">
<div class="slides_container">
<div><a href="#"><img src="{THEME}/img/slide1.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
<div><a href="#"><img src="{THEME}/img/slide2.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
<div><a href="#"><img src="{THEME}/img/slide3.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="dleft">&nbsp;</div>
<div class="dright">&nbsp;</div>
</div>