France vowed to combat terrorism with “a cry for freedom” in a giant rally for unity on Sunday after three days of bloodshed that horrified the world.
The rally is also a huge security challenge for a nation on alert for more violence, after 17 people and three gunmen were killed over three days of attacks on newspaper Charlie Hebdo , a kosher supermarket and on police that have left France a changed land.
Among the expected attendees are the Israeli Prime Minister and the Palestinian President. The Ukrainian President and Russian Foreign Minister, and the leaders of Britain, Germany, NATO, the Arab League and African nations. And the French masses, from across the political and religious spectrum.
The rally “must show the power, the dignity of the French people who will be shouting out of love of freedom and tolerance,” Prime Minister Manuel Valls said on Saturday.
Top European and U.S. security officials are also holding a special emergency meeting in Paris about fighting terrorism.
Published - January 11, 2015 08:19 am IST
