Australian Prime Minister John Howard was among 4,000 people who turned out to attend an official commemorative ceremony to mark the end of the World War II in Canberra Monday.

The crowd sang hymns and prayed for peace before Howard and other VIPs including Japan's ambassador laid wreaths at the cenotaph at the Australian War Memorial to commemorate those who fought and died 60 years ago.

The ceremony was part of commemorative activities across Australia.

Addressing the crowd, Howard said WWII was a war fought for liberty and was the triumph of a great moral cause.

"Freedom's torch was preserved not just here in Australia, but in the Pacific and in Europe, and this was a war of liberation, which in a real sense liberated the people of our once bitter enemies," he said.

He said Australians owe a debt that can never be repaid to those who gave their lives in the war.

The ceremony ended with a minute's silence and a flyover featuring war planes.

Meanwhile, commemorative activities were also held in other cities across the country.

(Xinhua News Agency August 15, 2005)