France, foreign leaders to march together in show of solidarity after attacks

(Reuters) - Hundreds of thousands of French citizens will be joined by dozens of foreign leaders, among them Arab and Muslim representatives, in a march in Paris on Sunday in honor of the victims of this week's Islamist militant attacks.

The march, which is to start at 3 p.m. (9.00 a.m. EST) and be made in silence, will be a show of solidarity and also reflect the profound shock felt in France and across the world over the worst Islamist assault on a European city in nine years.

Seventeen people, including journalists and policemen, lost their lives in three days of violence that began with a shooting attack on the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo on Wednesday and ended with a hostage-taking at a kosher supermarket on Friday. The three gunmen were also killed.

Security forces will be on the highest alert for the event, which will attended by about 40 heads of state and government.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, British Prime Minister David Cameron and Italy Prime Minister Matteo Renzi will march with President Francois Hollande. Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu are also expected to take part.

"It must show the power and dignity of the French people, who will cry out their love of liberty and tolerance," he said.

Meanwhile, Turkish and French sources said that a woman hunted by French police as a suspect in the attacks had leftFrance several days before the killings and is believed to be inSyria.  Read More