Post date: Jul 14, 2013 2:49:31 PM
U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Malian President Dioncounda Traore and Croatian President Ivo Josipovic are guests of honour at France's Bastille Day military parade.
PARIS, FRANCE (JULY 14, 2013) (FRENCH POOL) - France on Sunday (July 14) held its annual Bastille Day parade with a traditional march down the Champs Elysees in Paris.
French president Francois Hollande watched the parade. Guests of honour this year were United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Malian President Dioncounda Traore and Croatian President Ivo Josipovic.Troops from the armies of Mali and Croatia paraded down central Paris along with thousands of personnel from France's army, navy and air force.
An aerobatic display team flew overhead, trailing smoke in the colours of the French flag - red, white and blue.
The display ended with paratroopers landing at the Place de la Concorde.
The annual parade comes as France mourns those who died in a rail accident on Friday (July 12).
Six people were killed and dozens injured after a regional train derailed at thestation of Bretigny-sur-Orge, 26 km (16 miles) south of the French capital.