GALLIPOLI PENINSULA - Leaders from Turkey, Australia, New Zealand and Britain gathered on Sunday in northwestern Turkey to commemorate the 90th anniversary of one of World War I's fiercest battles.
A minute of silence was observed under clear blue skies near the towering Turkish monument on the Gallipoli peninsula, at the southern entrance of the strategic Dardanelles Strait which allied forces tried to wrest from Turkey's predecessor, the Ottoman Empire, in 1915.
The bloody campaign ended in defeat for the allied forces and the deaths of 35,000 allied troops, including British, French, Indians, Australians and New Zealanders. Turkey is believed to have lost some 86,000 men.
"Sorrow and a sense of great loss has drawn us all to Gallipoli," New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark said.
"What happened here became deeply etched in the collective memory of nations whose people fought here and even played a part in shaping the peoples and nations we have become," she said.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan hailed the friendly ties between Turkey, Australia and New Zealand, which fought each other 90 years ago.
"It is my sincere belief that the excellent relationship between Turkey, Australia and New Zealand, based on a true friendship, provides a fresh breeze to the souls of all those who fell martyr on this land and entrusts meaning to the lives lost there," he said.
The ceremony was also attended by Australian Minister for Veteran Affairs Anne Kelly, British Minister for Veteran Affairs Ivor Caplin as well as dignitaries from France, India, Canada, Germany, Ireland, South Africa and India.
Turkish, Australian and New Zealand soldiers took part in the ceremonies, which featured an aerobatics display by the Turks, with battleships from Britain, Australia and France as well as frigates from Turkey sailing past the Dardanelles.
The leaders and the dignitaries later laid wreaths at the French and British cemeteries in the region.
On Monday, thousands of Australians and New Zealanders are expected to attend a solemn dawn ceremony at Anzac Cove, the site of the April 25, 1915 landings of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) on the peninsula.
Britain's Prince Charles, and the prime ministers of Australia, New Zealand and Turkey will be present at the services.

04/24/2005 10:52 GMT