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World leaders have gathered to pay their respects to former French president Jacques Chirac at his memorial service in Paris.

French president Emmanuel Macron presided over the ceremony near the site of Napoleon's tomb in the courtyard of Les Invalides on Monday morning.

A military band played the national anthem, La Marseillaise, before Mr Macron inspected the troops.

Covered with a Tricolor flag, Mr Chirac's coffin was then carried to the centre of the courtyard.

Mr Macron, who appeared solemn and did not speak, also attended a memorial service at the Church of Saint-Sulpice in the French capital alongside dozens of politicians and foreign officials.

Some of the world figures in attendance included Russian President Vladimir Putin, former US president Bill Clinton, former German chancellor Gerhard Schroder and Jordan's King Abdallah II.

Mr , who led the country between 1995 and 2007, died "peacefully among his loved ones" on Thursday aged 86 after years of ill health.

He was the first president of the country to acknowledge France's role in the Holocaust, and he defiantly opposed the US invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Nicknamed "Le Bulldozer" early in his career for his determination and ambition, he also cut the presidential term of office from seven to five years.

A private funeral will take place for the former French leader at the Montparnasse cemetery later today.

Earlier, a minute of silence was held in schools and public buildings across the country on France's national day of mourning for its former leader.

A private family church service was also held ahead of the military tribute.

On Sunday, thousands of mourners paid tribute to Mr Chirac at Les Invalides, where his body lay in state on the eve of the memorial service.

Mourners also congregated outside the Church of Saint-Sulpice ahead of the final service.