United Nations, Sep 22 (IANS) UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan rang the Peace Bell with five UN Messengers of Peace, including India's tennis ace Vijay Amritraj standing by his side, to mark the annual International Day of Peace.

Other four peace messengers joining Annan at the ceremony here Thursday were author and journalist Anna Cataldi, Oscar-winning actor Michael Douglas, wildlife researcher and conservationist Jane Goodall, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel.

Annan also formally appointed a new messenger, world renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma, who performed for the gathering.

"For some of us, peace is a day-to-day reality," Annan declared as he stood in front of the bell, a gift from Japan cast from the pennies donated by children from 60 nations, before driving the ringing beam into it three times - the last time he will do so as he steps down from his office at the end of the year.

"Our streets are safe; our children go to school. Where the fabric of society is strong, the precious gifts of peace can almost go unremarked. But for far too many people in the world today, those gifts are only an elusive dream. They live in chains: a climate of insecurity and fear. It is mainly for them that this day exists."

Participants at the ceremony and UN staff throughput the world observed a minute of silence in the name of peace, and a choir sang an anthem of peace. The flags of the world's nations were paraded in the balmy autumn air on the front lawn in front of the UN Headquarters building.