A senior French Muslim leader has called on the country's nearly 5 million Muslims to "vote massively'' to elect Emmanuel Macron president.

Dalil Boubakeur, rector of Paris' Grand Mosque, called the final May 7 vote to choose the next French head of state "decisive for the destiny of France and its religious minorities.''

His statement said: "The Grand Mosque of Paris and its National Federation call on Muslims in France to vote massively for candidate Emmanuel Macron.''-AP