DHAKA: Dozens of world leaders including Muslim and Jewish statesmen linked arms leading hundreds of thousands of French citizens in an unprecedented march under high security to pay tribute to victims of Islamist militant attacks.

French president Francois Hollande and leaders from Germany, Italy, Israel, Turkey, Britain and the Palestinian territories among others, moved off from the central Place de la Republique ahead of a sea of French and other flags.

Giant letters attached to a statue in the square spelt out the word ‘Pourquoi?’ (Why?) and small groups sang the ‘La Marseillaise’ national anthem.

The leaders also observed a minute of silence for the victims, reports The Straits Times.

Some 2,200 police and soldiers patrolled Paris streets to protect marchers from would-be attackers, with police snipers on rooftops and plain-clothes detectives mingling with the crowd.

City sewers were searched ahead of the vigil and underground train stations around the march route are due to be closed down.

Family members of the 12 people killed during the Charlie Hebdo massacre earlier arrived at the rally site, wearing a white bandana on their heads with the word ‘Charlie’ written across.

BDST: 2129 HRS, JAN 11, 2015

** World leaders join rally for Paris attack victims