France went on red alert on Tuesday, stepping up security nationwide for the visit of a host of world leaders at the weekend for the 60th anniversary of the D-Day landings of World War II.
Measures taken by the French authorities included imposing a no-fly zone over the Normandy beaches in northern France where some 132,500 Allied troops stormed ashore on June 6, 1944 to drive German forces out of France.
Four thousand troops and an extra 1,000 police have been mobilized under the Vigipirate security plan, which will be raised to the maximum level — scarlet — from June 4, ahead of the arrival of dignitaries, thousands of war veterans and media.
The more than a dozen world leaders due to attend the festivities include President Bush, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and the monarchs of Britain, Norway and the Netherlands.
Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder will also be present, the first time a serving German leader will attend the ceremonies.