Rain on Francois Hollande's parade as new president celebrates inauguration

Despite the miserable weather, Mr Hollande leant out of his car's sunroof to wave to supporters that lined the streets.

He then paid homage to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, laying a wreath and lighting a flame under the Arc de Triomphe.

Mr Hollande will have little time to bask in his victory as he heads to Berlin later in the day to challenge German Chancellor Angela Merkel's austerity prescription for Europe.

In his inaugural speech to some 400 guests at the Elysee Palace, Mr Hollande said he would seek to amend a European pact to add growth-boosting measures to deficit-cutting policies that critics say are dampening the bloc's growth prospects.

Contains footage from Reuters

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