Thousands mourn French councillors

The service honoured the eight people killed

Nearly 14,000 people have attended a memorial service for eight councillors shot dead by a lone gunman in Paris last week.

President Jacques Chirac and Prime Minister Lionel Jospin were among the crowd of mourners - many holding white roses - who came to pay tribute at a ceremony in the Parisian suburb of Nanterre.

White roses lay scattered over a French flag in honour of the dead

Local schools, Nanterre University, public services and many shops were closed on Tuesday as a mark of respect for the massacre victims.

The eight councillors died and 19 others were injured when frustrated political activist Richard Durn went on a shooting spree at the end of a municipal meeting in Nanterre on 27 March.

A day after the rampage, Durn - who had a history of psychological illness - killed himself by jumping from a window of the Paris police headquarters.

Honouring the dead

The one hour memorial service in Nanterre's Gabriel-Peri sports stadium was led by the town's mayor Jacqueline Fraysse, who was present when the attack occurred.

Musicians from Nanterre's conservatory opened the ceremony before the crowd observed a moment of silence. A local theatre group then read messages honouring the victims.

Jacques Chirac and Lionel Jospin attended the memorial service

Speaking at the ceremony, Ms Fraysee urged the authorities to investigate the shooting incident thoroughly.

"How was [Durn] authorised to own weapons?" she asked. "How could a man this dangerous, who had clearly stated his intention to commit suicide ... escape surveillance?"

The issue of crime has become a major element of the spring presidential campaign, in which President Chirac and Prime Minister Jospin are the frontrunners.

Both men have been criticised for their response to the massacre.

Mr Chirac has been accused of linking the incident to his anti-crime political platform, while Mr Jospin has been criticised for understating Richard Durn's suicide, by describing it as "unfortunate".