French citizens paraded through Paris in their hundreds of thousands yesterday to proclaim national unity and freedom of expression.

However their march for decency was hijacked by a rogues’ gallery of 40 “world leaders” — perpetrators of imperialist wars, colonial occupiers, feudal despots and serial jailers of inconvenient journalists.

The 40 bigwigs took their place at the head of the march amid unprecedented security, waving to crowds assembled on the route.