Japan marks 65th anniversary of first atom bomb

Thousands of people have gathered in Hiroshima to pray for a world without nuclear arms on the 65th anniversary of the world's first atomic bombing.

Visitors came before dawn to light incense and pray for the deceased at the commemoration ceremony venue near the Peace Park.

For the first time, the United States sent a representative to the ceremony to commemorate those who died from the bomb, reflecting President Barack Obama's push to rid the world of nuclear weapons.

At 8:15 local time, the time when the bomb was dropped by the US B-29 Enola Gay, the peace bell tolled and tens of thousands of elderly survivors, children and dignitaries held a minute of silence under the burning summer sun.

Japan renewed its vow to rid the world of nuclear weapons.

Prime Minister Naoto Kan said in a speech: "With an eye on the future, the government will actively make specific suggestions for nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation and is determined to contribute to the formation of an agreement in the international community."

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who was among the 74 foreign representatives taking part in the ceremony.

The first UN leader to attend the ceremony said: "Our moment has come. Everywhere, we find new friends and allies. We see new leadership from the most powerful nations. We see new engagement in the U.N. Security Council. We see new energy from civil society."

The Hiroshima bomb, nicknamed "Little Boy", unfurled a mix of shockwaves, heat rays and radiation, killing thousands instantly. By the end of 1945, the death toll had risen to some 140,000 out of an estimated population of 350,000. Thousands more died of illness and injuries later.

Three days after the Hiroshima attack, on August 9 1945, the United States dropped another atomic bomb on Nagasaki. Japan surrendered six days later.