Bastille Day celebrations kick off beneath clear blue skies

Celebrations for France's national day, Bastille Day, have kicked off in spectacular fashion under clear blue skies in Paris. 

Members of the African forces that fought in Mali march down the Champs-Elysées avenue, 14 July, 2013 AFP/ Lionel Bonaventure

A military fly-over kick-started the annual military parade down Paris's Champs-Elysées. The parade was headed by Malian Lieutenant Elisée Jean Dao, who led a contingent of around 60 soldiers from Mali.

They were followed by UN peacekeepers in blue berets, ahead of French soldiers who served in France's military intervention in Mali, as well as in Afghanistan.

The President, François Hollande, arrived by motorcade to Place de la Concorde to witness the parade along wth Mali's Interim President Dioncounda Traoré and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.

Some 4,800 servicemen and women took part in the parade. There was also a contingent of soldiers from Croatia to celebrate the country's entry into the European Union at the beginning of the month.

The budget for this year's parade was around 15 percent less than last year, given France's tight public finances at the moment.

Following the parade, Hollande gave a televised interview, where he was grilled over France's economic performance and unemployment.

Celebrations later in the day include a concert near the Eiffel Tower, capping off with a spectacular fireworks display at night.

The celebrations have been muted by Friday's train derailment of a passenger train at Brétigny-sur-Orge south of Paris, killing six people. Celebrations in that town have been cancelled.