Hollande, Sarkozy lead V-E Day ceremonies in Paris

[May 08, 2012]  PARIS (AP) -- In his last state ceremony before stepping down as France's president, Nicolas Sarkozy led commemorations in Paris on Tuesday marking the end of World War II in Europe.

Sarkozy was joined by President-elect Francois Hollande, and the two political rivals stood side by side at the Arc de Triomphe war memorial.

To the stirring anthem "The Marseillaise," a solemn-looking Sarkozy began the proceedings by laying a wreath at the statue of Charles de Gaulle, the former president and leader of the Free French Forces, in a nod to Sarkozy's Gaullist roots.

The president also shook hands at the Champs-Elysees avenue ceremony with military dignitaries, including Gen. de Gaulle's 90-year-old son, Philippe.

A cortege followed Sarkozy up the grand central artery to the Place de l'Etoile, where he and outgoing Prime Minister Francois Fillon inspected the troops.

The Arc de Triomphe has a special significance for World War II since Adolf Hitler marched his Nazi troops through the iconic monument when Germany took France over in 1940. It also was the site where Allied troops -- including many U.S. soldiers -- celebrated victory over Germany 67 years ago.

Sarkozy -- who looked particularly downbeat throughout the ceremony -- was joined by Hollande, the winner of Sunday's presidential runoff, to lay another wreath at a World War I memorial.

The two leaders, putting aside their differences, then stood side by side in silence for several minutes at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, whose symbolic flame was made to burn brighter during the ceremony.

The rare scene of the two top officials together will no doubt feature prominently in French newspapers.

The two men then met dignitaries, including some World War II veterans, before shaking hands with each other in front of the cameras.

Speaking to the media following the ceremony, Hollande said that after a "particularly" tough campaign, "it was useful and helpful for the country to know it can still come together ... around the president still in power, and the newly elected one, for the same one cause: the country."

The Socialist narrowly beat Sarkozy on Sunday to be the next president of France by just over 1 million votes. Sarkozy and Hollande will meet again on May 15 at the presidential Elysee Palace for the official transfer of power.

[Associated Press; By THOMAS ADAMSON]

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