JAPAN marked the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima yesterday, with Mayor Kazumi Matsui renewing calls for global nuclear disarmament.

Ten of thousands of people stood and observed a minute’s silence at 8.15 am, the time of the attack, in the city’s Peace Park near the centre of the blast. Dozens of doves were released as a symbol of peace.

Some 80,000 people were killed at Hiroshima by the explosion and resulting fires, along with 40,000 in the atomic bombing of Nagasaki three days later.