Britain marks 70th anniversary of VE Day

A two-minute silence was observed across Britain on Friday afternoon, through the buzz of the British general election, marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, also known as Victory in Europe (VE) Day.

Silence fell at the Cenotaph in London's Whitehall at 3 p.m. Prime Minister David Cameron, who led his Conservative Party to victory in the election, took part in the event and laid a wreath at the Cenotaph, Xinhua news agency reported.

Labour Party's Ed Miliband and the Liberal Democrats' Nick Clegg attended the commemorative ceremony although they resigned after their parties' defeat in the election. Nicola Sturgeon, leader of the Scottish National Party, took part in the event as well.

People in Oxfordshire, Belfast, observed a two-minute silence at the same time.

Remembrance events will be held across Britain.

A beacon will be lit at the Tower of London on the bank of Thames river on Friday evening, while Trafalgar Square and the House of Parliament will be lit up with special V-shaped lights until Sunday evening, to commemorate the victory anniversary.

More than 200 beacons around the country will be lit on Friday evening.