Hiroshima, Aug 6 (DPA) Japan observed the 64th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima Thursday with an appeal for a nuclear weapons-free world.

Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba made an appeal for peace and plugged US President Barack Obama's call to rid the globe of atomic weapons.

'We support President Obama and have a moral responsibility to act to abolish nuclear weapons,' said the mayor, who also employed the slogan from Obama's election campaign last year 'Yes, we can'.

Akiba's words also reflected Obama's when the US president said in his call for a nuclear weapons-free world in April that the US, as the only country to ever use nuclear weapons in war, 'has a moral responsibility to act'.

Prime Minister Taro Aso also took part in the ceremony in the western city and said Japan would resolutely stand by its anti-nuclear principles of refusing to make, possess or allow nuclear weapons on its soil.

'I pledge again that Japan will firmly abide by the three non-nuclear principles and lead the international community to achieve the goal of the abolition of nuclear weapons and everlasting peace,' he said.

Tens of thousands of people assembled in Hiroshima for a minute of silence at 8:15 a.