Hollande leads solemn homage to victims of Paris terror attacks

PARIS, Nov 27 (KUNA) -- French President Francois Hollande on Friday led a ceremony of homage to mourn the 130 victims of the terror attacks on November 13, warning the terrorists that they would not win their "crazy cause" and France would not change because of their violence.
In a solemn ceremony in which all 130 names of the victims were read out, along with their ages, almost the entire political, religious and intellectual classes, and many families of the victims, were among the 2,000 people who paid their respects to the dead.
Hollande said that the terrorists from Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) had struck down people from all walks of life, all ages, all religions and ethnic origins.
The average age of those mowed down in the six shootings two weeks ago was 35, and the victims came from 17 different countries.
Christians, Jews, Muslims were killed by what Hollande said was "an army of fanatics" who espoused "a crazy cause" and who were "betraying their religion" "We will not cede to hatred or fear," Hollande said in a speech to the gathering in the Invalides Military complex, and he vowed to destroy ISIL.
"To all of you I solemnly promise that France will do everything to destroy the fanatics who did this," the French leader declared. (end) jk.nfm