President Obama Says Won’t Apologise for Hiroshima Atomic Bomb

A majority of Americans see the bombings as having been necessary to end the war and save US and Japanese lives.

• US President Barack Obama said he will not apologise for the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, as amidst a war, “leaders make all kinds of decisions.”

• Obama will become the first sitting US president to visit Hiroshima, where the first atomic bomb was dropped on 6 August 1945, killing about 140,000 people in total.

• His visit to Japan is aimed at emphasising friendly ties between the former enemies. He also said the visit will be a time to reflect on the harsh toll that war takes at any time.

(With agency inputs.)