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| Leaders' tribute to D-Day heroes | Leaders' tribute to D-Day heroes |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Allied leaders have been paying tribute to veterans of D-Day, as they mark the 65th anniversary of the landings at a series of events in Normandy. | Allied leaders have been paying tribute to veterans of D-Day, as they mark the 65th anniversary of the landings at a series of events in Normandy. |
| US President Barack Obama said the bravery and selflessness of a few changed the course of a whole century. | US President Barack Obama said the bravery and selflessness of a few changed the course of a whole century. |
| He was speaking alongside French, Canadian and UK leaders at the American cemetery near Omaha Beach, scene of fierce fighting on 6 June 1944. | He was speaking alongside French, Canadian and UK leaders at the American cemetery near Omaha Beach, scene of fierce fighting on 6 June 1944. |
| The Allies suffered 215,000 casualties on D-Day and in the Normandy campaign. | The Allies suffered 215,000 casualties on D-Day and in the Normandy campaign. |
| Germany suffered similar losses as the Allies fought desperately up the beaches and into the French countryside to form a bridgehead. | Germany suffered similar losses as the Allies fought desperately up the beaches and into the French countryside to form a bridgehead. |
| Brief trip | Brief trip |
| Saturday's events began in Bayeux with a service of remembrance and commemoration organised by the Royal British Legion. | Saturday's events began in Bayeux with a service of remembrance and commemoration organised by the Royal British Legion. |
| British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his French counterpart, Francois Fillon, both laid wreaths inside Bayeux cathedral. | British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his French counterpart, Francois Fillon, both laid wreaths inside Bayeux cathedral. |
| It's a great feeling to come here. My comrades though are buried over at Omaha US veteran Austin Cox Charles and PM at D-Day service | It's a great feeling to come here. My comrades though are buried over at Omaha US veteran Austin Cox Charles and PM at D-Day service |
| Mr Obama flew into Paris late on Friday after a brief trip to Germany in which he and Chancellor Angela Merkel toured the Buchenwald concentration camp. | Mr Obama flew into Paris late on Friday after a brief trip to Germany in which he and Chancellor Angela Merkel toured the Buchenwald concentration camp. |
| Accompanied by Mr Sarkozy, he arrived in Caen with his wife, Michelle on Saturday at midday (1000 GMT). | Accompanied by Mr Sarkozy, he arrived in Caen with his wife, Michelle on Saturday at midday (1000 GMT). |
| Thronging crowds gave the US leader a rock star-style welcome and cheered as he went on an impromptu walkabout before a formal welcoming ceremony from a French military guard. | Thronging crowds gave the US leader a rock star-style welcome and cheered as he went on an impromptu walkabout before a formal welcoming ceremony from a French military guard. |
| Later he flew to the US war cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, overlooking Omaha Beach for his speech. | Later he flew to the US war cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, overlooking Omaha Beach for his speech. |
| Advertisement | Advertisement |
| Obama and Sarkozy remember D-Day | Obama and Sarkozy remember D-Day |
| Veterans of the landings are among the invited audience. Mr Sarkozy will award the French Legion d'Honneur, the country's highest military honour, to one American, one Briton, one Canadian and one Frenchman. | |
| Mr Obama's great-uncle, Charlie Payne, 84, who helped to liberate a concentration camp near Buchenwald, has also travelled to Normandy. | Mr Obama's great-uncle, Charlie Payne, 84, who helped to liberate a concentration camp near Buchenwald, has also travelled to Normandy. |
| British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Canada's Stephen Harper are also at the service, along with Britain's Prince Charles. | British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Canada's Stephen Harper are also at the service, along with Britain's Prince Charles. |
| He was invited after the US intervened in a cross-channel row over the lack of an invitation for Queen Elizabeth. | He was invited after the US intervened in a cross-channel row over the lack of an invitation for Queen Elizabeth. |
| "It's a great feeling ... to come here," said Austin Cox, 90, of Maryland, who landed on Omaha Beach as a sergeant with the 29th Division of the US 115th Infantry Regiment. | "It's a great feeling ... to come here," said Austin Cox, 90, of Maryland, who landed on Omaha Beach as a sergeant with the 29th Division of the US 115th Infantry Regiment. |
| "My comrades though are buried over at Omaha," he said. | "My comrades though are buried over at Omaha," he said. |
| US First Lady Michelle Obama and her daughters Malia, 10, and Sasha, seven, arrived in France shortly before the president. | US First Lady Michelle Obama and her daughters Malia, 10, and Sasha, seven, arrived in France shortly before the president. |
| After the D-Day ceremonies, President Obama and his family will return to Paris where they plan to visit Notre Dame Cathedral. They are due to fly back to the US on Sunday. | After the D-Day ceremonies, President Obama and his family will return to Paris where they plan to visit Notre Dame Cathedral. They are due to fly back to the US on Sunday. |