World leaders gather in Paris a century after First World War armistice

Trump cancels trip to Belleau Wood battlefield and cemetery citing 'logistical difficulties' caused by rain

Heads of State and government attend the international ceremony for the Centenary of the WWI Armistice of 11 November 1918 at the Arc de Triomphe, in Paris, France. EPA

Denmark's Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, Morocco's Prince Moulay Hassan, Moroccan King Mohammed VI, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrive to attend the ceremony. EPA

French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech during the ceremony. AFP

A local resident applauds as history enthusiasts dressed as French soldiers parade during a commemoration ceremony in Epernay, France. Reuters

Leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, Vince Cable, Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn and Prime Minister Theresa May carry poppy wreaths to the Cenotaph in central London. AFP

People release a dove during a ceremony at the tomb of the unknown soldier at Congres Column, in Brussels, Belgium. EPA

Members of military history clubs wearing World War One French military style uniforms take part in a memorable celebrations in Tsarskoye Selo near St Petersburg, Russia. EPA

Red poppies are projected onto the sails of the Sydney Opera House to mark the centenary of the Armistice ending World War One, in Sydney, Australia. Reuters

Members of the Australian Army pay their respects during a basketball match between the Adelaide 36ers and the Perth Wildcats at Coopers Stadium in Adelaide, Australia. Getty

West Point cadets pose before a commemoration ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France. Reuters

An Indian army officer puts flags next to a tombstone at Delhi War Cemetery in New Delhi. AFP

Members of the public look on from the Australian Memorial during a Sunset Ceremony at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in Wellington, New Zealand. Getty Images

A piper plays 'When the Battle's O'er', a traditional Scottish war lament, outside St Albans Cathedral, UK. Reuters

People gather during a ceremony at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Taguig, Philippines. EPA

Dancers perform during the Armistice Centenary National Ceremony at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in Wellington, New Zealand. Getty Images

Members of the public place floating poppies onto a pond during a memorial service at the ANZAC Memorial in Sydney, Australia. Reuters

Hong Kong veterans pose for a photograph in front of the Cenotaph in Hong Kong. EPA

Members of Australia's armed forces stand behind officials holding wreaths during a memorial service at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. Reuters

A military band passes The Cenotaph in London. Getty Images

Commemorations are under way around the world to mark the moment 100 years ago when the slaughter of the First World War finally stopped.

France, the epicentre of the first global conflict, hosted the main international commemoration, pressing home the point that the world mustn't stumble into war again, as it did so quickly and catastrophically with the Second World War.

The commemoration's host, French President Emmanuel Macron, warned about the fragility of peace and the dangers of nationalism: a theme that seemed directed, at least in part, at United States President Donald Trump, who listened stony-faced.

"The traces of this war never went away," Mr Macron said.

"The old demons are rising again," he intoned. "We must reaffirm before our peoples our true and huge responsibility."

More than 60 world leaders gathered to honour the dead, lining up together at precisely 11am, a century after the ceasefire. They included those with the power to destroy humanity if it ever stumbles into the folly of a third world war.

The US and Russian presidents were joined by an array of leaders whose geographical spread showed how the "war to end all wars" left few corners of the globe untouched.

In the United Kingdom, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the German President laid a wreath at the Cenograph, a historic gesture of reconciliation.

Mr Stenmeier is the first German leader to lay a wreath at the Cenograph, the centre of British national remembrance.

On Saturday, President Donald Trump and his wife Melania cancelled a trip to Belleau Wood battlefield and cemetery in northern France, citing "scheduling and logistical difficulties" caused by the rainy weather.

Coming on the eve of Veteran's Day in the United States, the decision drew criticism on social media, where many noted that the rain had not stopped President Emmanuel Macron, Germany's Angela Merkel or Canada's Justin Trudeau from paying their respects to the dead.

"They died with their face to the foe and that pathetic inadequate @realDonaldTrump couldn't even defy the weather to pay his respects to The Fallen," Nicholas Soames, a British Conservative member of parliament and grandson of Winston Churchill tweeted.

Ceremonies have been held across the world this week in honour of the 18 million soldiers and civilians who perished in the First World War.

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