World leaders have joined mourners in Paris to pay their final respects to the former French president Jacques Chirac.
The Elysée declared Monday, September 30 a national day of mourning in France after the former president, prime minister, and mayor of Paris died on Thursday at the age of 86.
Former US President Bill Clinton and Russia's Vladimir Putin are among dozens of past and present world leaders attending a memorial service for France's Jacques Chirac.
The funeral service is taking place at the Church of Saint-Sulpice in Paris' 6th arrondissement. French people paid their respects during the former head of state's journey from Les Invalides to Saint-Sulpice.
Among the mourners at Monday's service were all three living former presidents of France - Giscard d'Estaing, Nicolas Sarkozy and Francois Hollande. Also present was President Emmanuel Macron, who last week hailed Chirac as a "great Frenchman".
Chirac was celebrated by many in France for asserting the country's role as a global player, with his opposition to the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 considered one of his most significant actions. Chirac is also being remembered for being the first French president to acknowledge France's role in the deportation of Jews during World War II. He remained a popular figure after leaving office, despite a conviction for misusing public funds.
