France held its annual Bastille Day parade with a traditional military march down the Champs Elysees in Paris under the gaze of French president Francois Hollande on Sunday.

Guests of honour this year included United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Malian President Dioncounda Traore.

Mali's Traore was invited to watch the parade with Hollande in the presidential podium to mark France's military operation against al Qaeda fighters in the North African country earlier this year.

An aerobatic display team flew overhead, trailing smoke in the colours of the French flag - red, white and blue.

The display ended with paratroopers landing at the Place de la Concorde.