2010-08-06 09:07

HIROSHIMA, Japan - Hiroshima is holding a memorial to mark the 65th anniversary of the world's first atomic bomb attack, with the US and other major nuclear powers attending for the first time.

Hiroshima Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba, center left, shakes hands with US Ambassador to Japan John Roos, center right, as they attend the 65th anniversary of the world's worst atomic bomb attack at the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, western Japan, Friday, August 6, 2010. [Agencies]

This year's memorial, which began with the offering of water to the dead, is being attended by representatives of the US, Britain, France and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Altogether, 75 countries are represented.

About 140,000 people were killed or died within months when the American B-29 "Enola Gay" bombed Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. Three days later, about 80,000 people died after the United States attacked Nagasaki.

Japan surrendered on August 15, ending World War II.