ROME, June 2 (Xinhua) -- Italy on Friday held ceremonies to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of its Republic with a full-scale military parade in Rome.

    Italy's President Giorgio Napolitano, Premier Romano Prodi and opposition chief Silvio Berlusconi were among the dozens of officials on the reviewing stand as some 7,000 members of the Armed Forces marched past the Imperial Fora.

    The celebrations began shortly after 9:00 a.m. with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Rome's Piazza Venezia.

    As the head of state placed the wreath on the altar, Italy's celebrated aerobatics team, the Frecce Tricolori, flew overhead leaving plumes of red, white and green smoke in the sky marking the colors of the Italian national flag.

    Members of the army, navy and air force took part in the parade,together with the military police and war veterans, while thousands of citizens turned out to watch.

    In a speech delivered on Friday, President Napolitano paid tribute to the professionalism, courage and sacrifice of the members of the armed forces, saying their lives were dedicated to "ensuring freedom and human dignity."

    He also paid tribute to the soldiers who had lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan where Italian contingents are currently deployed.

    Italy switched from being a monarchy to becoming a Republic following a referendum held on June 2, 1946. Enditem