France calls on all willing citizens to become reservists

French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve has called on citizens to become reservists, in a bid to help boost security forces in the wake of the country's latest terror attack.

France's "operational reservists" include French citizens with or without military experience as well as former soldiers.

"I want to call on all French patriots who wish to do so, to join this operational reserve," Cazeneuve said.

His call comes after the government has been criticised for not doing more to stop attacks.

French President Francois Hollande said on Friday that reservists would be called upon to boost the ranks of police and gendarmes.

The operational reserve is currently made up of 12,000 volunteers, 9000 of whom are within the paramilitary police and 3000 in the regular police force, said Cazeneuve.

"We are going to reinforce the presence of security forces across the country," he added.

He said the number of security forces deployed to protect the population was nearly 100,000, including 53,000 police, 36,000 para-military police and 10,000 soldiers.