D-DAY MARKED

French President Francois Hollande has called D-Day the day that ‘changed the world’ at 70th anniversary commemorations.

Vetrans and world leaders have been attending events in northern France to mark Allied landings which began the invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe during World War II.

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II has been in France along with the French, Russian and American Presidents.

The commemorations also saw unscheduled meetings between leaders amid high tension over Ukraine.

UK correspondent Olly Barratt reports.

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In Bayeux Cathedral a service led by Right Reverend Nigel McKullock chaplain of the royal british legion.

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Hundreds of D-Day veterans in northern France where they landed 70 years ago in a military operation seen as the turning point in World War II.

A series of events at beaches which these days are tourist hotspots - in 1944 they were five landing points for allied forces.

Military hardware on display to commemorate the day President Obama told an audience at Colleville-sur-Mer changed more than just the course of the war.

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And he led more than one standing ovation to some of the veterans assembled 70 years on from their historic mission.

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That mission was announced seven decades ago by the BBC.

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And historian Dr Hannah Diamond says it’s important to recognise the importance of D-Day.

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The events also saw US President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin speak on the margins of a leaders lunch - their first face-to-face since the Ukraine crisis started.

Vladimir Putin also met Ukraine's President-elect Petro poroshenko for the first time.

French President Francois Hollande telling one D-day veteran 'we made russia and ukraine talk' and speaking of the ceremony therefore being 'useful'.

70 years to the day since allied forces launched an operation which led to the defeat of Nazi Germany.

Olly Barratt reporting