Dozens of leaders pay final tribute to France's Chirac

PARIS - Dozens of world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, gathered in Paris on Monday to pay their final respects to France's late former president Jacques Chirac as the country held a national day of mourning for its popular former head of state.

Putin and other world leaders joined French President Emmanuel Macron at Saint-Sulpice church in central Paris, a day after thousands of people queued to view the coffin.

Dai Bingguo, former Chinese state councilor, was expected to attend the memorial service as President Xi Jinping's special envoy.