French President Francois Hollande on Tuesday unveiled a plaque at the former offices of the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo as commemorations began to mark the attack there and two more days of horror.

In a sombre, wordless observance under a light drizzle, Hollande, flanked by Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, also laid a wreath under the plaque bearing the names of the 11 victims shot dead at the newspaper's offices.