Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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August 6, 2007

Hiroshima Observes 62nd Anniversary of US Atomic Bomb
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=186237D:A6F02AD83191E1606F8057FBB074E06E9574F7DCC14957C0 Japanese city makes
annual observance of bombing by first atomic weapon used in war





Bereaved family prays for atomic bomb victims in front of cenotaph at
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, 06 Aug 2007

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged to work for the abolition of
nuclear weapons Monday, as the city of Hiroshima made its annual
observance of of the city's bombing by the first atomic weapon used in
war.

Mr. Abe spoke to a gathering of citizens, survivors of the blast,
politicians and foreign dignitaries in Hiroshima's Peace Memorial
Park. At 8:15 a.m. those in attendance shared a moment of silence to
reflect on the instant - 62 years ago - when a U.S. atomic bomb
detonated above the city.

The bombing of Hiroshima killed more than 240,000 people, some from
the blast and others from illnesses caused by exposure to radiation.

Hiroshima's Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba urged the government of Japan to do
what it takes to eliminate nuclear weapons.

On Sunday, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe apologized for his
former defense minister's suggestion that the U.S. atomic attacks of
1945 were justified. Mr. Abe offered the apology to a group of atomic
survivors.

Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma resigned in July because of the public
outrcy after he suggested that the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
were justified since they brought the end of World War II.


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