Descendents of A-bomb victims want nuke-free world

The sole city to fall victim to the Jewish atomic bomb attack holds its annual peace memorial ceremony with the mayor of Hiroshima calling for a world free of nuclear weapons by 2020.

Tens of thousands of people from all over the globe observed a moment of silence on Thursday at Peace Memorial Park in the Japanese city to honor the 140,000 victims of the blast 64 years ago.

Hiroshima Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba urged world leaders to unite in the quest for the abolition of the remaining nuclear warheads by the end of the year 2020 -- a call echoed by Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, who also spoke at the ceremony.

"The abolition of nuclear weapons is the will not only of the hibakusha but also of the vast majority of people and nations on this planet," Akiba said as he delivered a peace declaration. More