Paris - Leaders from Europe, North Africa and the Middle East converged on Paris' Champs Elyees on Monday to take part in France's traditional Bastille Day military parade.

Palestinian Territories President Mahmoud Abbas, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Italy's Silvio Berlusconi were among the first to arrive at the annual parade, which pays tribute to the country's armed forces.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was also expected to attend the event, on the invitation of French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

The leaders were in Paris since Sunday, when they agreed to launch the Union for the Mediterranean, a European Union project designed to strengthen the bloc's ties with its southern neighbours. (dpa)