A father-of-three, suspected of bombarding his children with violent images glorifiying jihad, has been charged with "inciting acts of terrorism", prosecutors in southeastern France said on Saturday.

The man was also indicted for parental violence against minors under 15 and shirking legal obligations as a parent, the prosecutor's office in the town of Valence said.

An investigation was launched in November 2014 after one of the three children, who are aged between six and 10, complained to school authorities of being abused while spending the weekend with their father.

The children, whose parents are divorced, had also complained of being forced to watch images of "extreme violence that justified terrorism", according to a source familiar with the case.

The father, who lives in Valence, was arrested on Wednesday after a complaint was lodged by his ex-wife.