The Czech Republic is marking the 20th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, which led to the end of communist rule in what was then Czechoslovakia.

Former Czech President Vaclav Havel (background center) helps commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution in Prague, Czech Republic, 17 Nov 2009Thousands of Czechs celebrated Tuesday by re-enacting a mass demonstration in the capital, Prague, where students clashed with police at the start of the uprising exactly 20 years ago, on November 17, 1989.

Former Czech Republic President Vaclav Havel, current President Vaclav Klaus and Prime Minister Jan Fischer joined hundreds of people laying flowers and lighting candles at a monument that marks the site where demonstrators were attacked by police 20 years ago.

The movement led to the fall of communism in Czechoslovakia and paved the way for Mr. Havel to become the nation's first democratically-elected president in decades.

Czechoslovakia peacefully split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993.

The anniversary festivities kicked off Saturday with a concert in Prague. U.S. President Barack Obama addressed the concert crowd in a video message and said "Your spirit, your courage inspired the world."