Obama, Sarkozy to take part in D-Day commemorations in Normandy

Jun 6, 2009, 9:08 GMT

French President Nicolas Sarkozy (C-L) and US President Barack Obama (C-R) salute upon the latter\'s arrival in Caen, France, 06 June 2009. Presidents Sarkozy and Obama held a bilateral meeting on the occassion of the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings. EPA/THIERRY CHESNOT

Paris - US President Barack Obama will join his French counterpart, Nicolas Sarkozy, and other Western leaders Saturday in ceremonies commemorating the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy.

The two leaders are also scheduled to meet in the city of Caen to hold discussions on a broad array of subjects, including Afghanistan, relations with Russia, Iran's nuclear program and global warming.

Obama arrived in Paris late Friday from Germany, where he had met with Chancellor Angela Merkel and visited the former Nazi concentration camp Buchenwald.

Just as Obama's plane was touching down at Orly Airport Friday, his wife, Michelle, and their daughters, Malia and Sasha, paid a visit to the Eiffel Tower.

The first lady and her daughters were welcomed at the legendary tourist site by several hundred people, including Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe.

Obama and Sarkozy would be joined by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Britain's Prince Charles and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, as well as thousands of World War II veterans for ceremonies at the cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer.

The event is to honour the Allied soldiers who died in the June 6, 1944, invasion of Normandy, which marked the beginning of the end of the war.

Following the ceremonies, Obama and his family are to visit Notre Dame Cathedral and then dine together at a Paris restaurant.

The president is scheduled to fly back to the United States on Sunday while his wife and children spend one more day in the French capital, to celebrate Sasha's eighth birthday.