JAKARTA, Aug. 17 (Xinhuanet) -- Indonesia commemorated the 60th anniversary of independence here on Wednesday with celebrations across the world's fourth most populous nation.

    President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono kicked off the day with a ceremony in front of the presidential palace attended by thousands of invitees, including former president Abdurrahman Wahid, former vice presidents, foreign diplomats, high-ranking military and government officials.

    Susilo gave no speech during the commemoration, marked by hoisting the red-and-white flag and playing the national anthem.

    Those who gave their lives in the fight for independence were remembered with a minute of silence, followed by a 17-gun salute, blazing sirens, ringing bell chimes in churches and beating drums at mosques.

    Flag-raising ceremonies were also being held in government ministry offices and institutions, as well as at state-run and private enterprises across the country.

    The Japanese occupied Indonesia from 1942 to 1945 during World War II.

    Shortly after Japan's defeat in WWII, Sukarno and Hatta proclaimed Indonesia an independent state, and they became the founding fathers of the new country.

    Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world with over 17,000 islands -- only 3,000 of which are inhabited. Enditem