Nagasaki marks 70th anniversary of atomic bombing

Tokyo: Commemorations will be held in Japan's Nagasaki city on Sunday to mark the 70th year of US atomic bombing on the city, killing at least 70,000 people.

A memorial ceremony will be organised in Nagasaki at 11.02 a.m (local time) exactly at the time when a US B-29 strategic bomber dropped a "Fat Man" atomic bomb on the city on August 9, 1945, reported TASS news agency.

A minute of silence will be observed in Japan. Nagasaki Mayor Tomihisa Taue will read out a declaration of peace, which calls for total nuclear disarmament.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will also address the people of Nagasaki. By tradition, a flock of white doves – symbols of peace – will be released.

The Nagasaki city administration said representatives of more than 80 countries will attend the memorial events this year.

Rose Gottemoeller, US Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, as well as the US Ambassador to Japan, Caroline Kennedy, will represent the United States.

Britain and France have also sent their delegations to Nagasaki. Russian embassy employees will represent Russia. An Iranian delegation is attending the commemorations for the first time.

Nagasaki became the second Japanese city after Hiroshima to be subjected to US atomic bombings in August 1945.

(IANS)