France declares state of emergency

French President Francois Hollande has declared a state of emergency across the country after simultaneous attacks in Paris left at least 39 people dead.

The state of emergency will be "declared across the entire country", Hollande said, as a hostage-taking continued at a popular music venue in the capital.

In a brief statement on television, Hollande also announced the "the closure of national borders".

A French government official later said President Hollande is cancelling his trip to the G-20 meeting in Turkey.

Hollande was due to leave Saturday for the meeting in Turkey, which was to focus in large part on growing fears of terrorism carried out by Islamic extremists.