Hiroshima Leaders Call for Nuclear Abolishment Amid Global Tensions

Hiroshima officials called on world leaders Tuesday to abandon reliance on nuclear weapons and take immediate action towards their abolishment, emphasizing the real and present danger of atomic war amid conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East, and rising tensions in East Asia.

The call came as Hiroshima marked 79 years since its atomic bombing at the end of World War II. The memorial observance follows renewed discussions between Japan and the US on 'extended deterrence' through nuclear capabilities to protect Asian allies.

Governor Hidehiko Yuzaki and Mayor Kazumi Matsui stressed the immediate necessity of nuclear disarmament, citing ongoing global conflicts like Russia's invasion of Ukraine and tensions between Israel and Palestine as intensifying distrust among nations. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pledged to pursue realistic steps towards disarmament despite the challenges.

(With inputs from agencies.)