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| Isis: world leaders gather in Paris as UK edges towards military action | Isis: world leaders gather in Paris as UK edges towards military action |
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| Leaders and diplomats of more than 20 countries for a crisis meeting in Paris on Monday morning as the prospect of Britain joining military action against the Islamic State (Isis) jihadi group moves closer. | |
| On Sunday, David Cameron led international condemnation of the ritualised killing of British aid worker David Haines and threats against a second UK citizen, Alan Henning. | On Sunday, David Cameron led international condemnation of the ritualised killing of British aid worker David Haines and threats against a second UK citizen, Alan Henning. |
| As western diplomats reported that several Arab states had offered to join a US-led coalition carrying out air strikes against the insurgents, the prime minister said the UK was "ready to take whatever steps are necessary" to deal with the threat of Isis. | As western diplomats reported that several Arab states had offered to join a US-led coalition carrying out air strikes against the insurgents, the prime minister said the UK was "ready to take whatever steps are necessary" to deal with the threat of Isis. |
| Before the conference began on Monday morning, France's foreign minister, Laurent Fabius, announced that French aircraft will begin reconnaissance flights over Iraq. | |
| "We told the Iraqis we were available and asked them for authorisation," Fabius told Europe 1. | "We told the Iraqis we were available and asked them for authorisation," Fabius told Europe 1. |
| The British foreign minister, Philip Hammond. joined John Kerry, the US secretary of state,, Iraqi, Arab and other western ministers at the Paris conference to agree ways to support the new Baghdad government in the war against the jihadi group. On Sunday, he said he was "extremely encouraged" by pledges to build a broad alliance against Isis. | |
| More than 40 nations have signed up to a US-led plan, but not all are willing to offer Iraq direct military support. Arab participation in military action would give a wider sense of legitimacy to the campaign. | More than 40 nations have signed up to a US-led plan, but not all are willing to offer Iraq direct military support. Arab participation in military action would give a wider sense of legitimacy to the campaign. |
| In a statement in front of two union jack flags, Cameron said: "We are a peaceful people. We do not seek out confrontation, but we need to understand we cannot ignore this threat to our security and that to our allies. There is no option of keeping our heads down that would make us safe … We cannot just walk on by if we are to keep this country safe. We have to confront this menace. | In a statement in front of two union jack flags, Cameron said: "We are a peaceful people. We do not seek out confrontation, but we need to understand we cannot ignore this threat to our security and that to our allies. There is no option of keeping our heads down that would make us safe … We cannot just walk on by if we are to keep this country safe. We have to confront this menace. |
| "Step by step, we must drive back, dismantle and ultimately destroy Isil [Isis] and what it stands for … We will not do so on our own, but by working closely with our allies, not just the United States and in Europe, but also in the region because this organisation poses a massive threat to the entire Middle East." | "Step by step, we must drive back, dismantle and ultimately destroy Isil [Isis] and what it stands for … We will not do so on our own, but by working closely with our allies, not just the United States and in Europe, but also in the region because this organisation poses a massive threat to the entire Middle East." |
| No Arab state has yet publicly promised to participate in military action, but the countries are believed to include Saudi Arabia and the UAE, whose aircraft recently bombed Islamist militia targets in Libya from bases in Egypt. | No Arab state has yet publicly promised to participate in military action, but the countries are believed to include Saudi Arabia and the UAE, whose aircraft recently bombed Islamist militia targets in Libya from bases in Egypt. |
| A senior western source told the Guardian that Saudi Arabia felt so threatened by Isis that it was prepared to act in a frontline role. "There is a very real possibility that we could have the Saudi air force bombing targets inside Syria. That is a remarkable development, and something the US would be very pleased to see." | A senior western source told the Guardian that Saudi Arabia felt so threatened by Isis that it was prepared to act in a frontline role. "There is a very real possibility that we could have the Saudi air force bombing targets inside Syria. That is a remarkable development, and something the US would be very pleased to see." |
| Another senior official said Saudi Arabia was far more willing to play an open role in the offensive against Isis than it did during the 1991 Gulf war and the 2003 invasion of Iraq. On both previous campaigns, Riyadh allowed its military bases to be used by US forces, but did not commit its own troops or airmen. This time, Riyadh sees Isis as a direct threat. | Another senior official said Saudi Arabia was far more willing to play an open role in the offensive against Isis than it did during the 1991 Gulf war and the 2003 invasion of Iraq. On both previous campaigns, Riyadh allowed its military bases to be used by US forces, but did not commit its own troops or airmen. This time, Riyadh sees Isis as a direct threat. |
| "They actually see themselves as the real target. They know that they have to step up, and they are ready to, from what we can see," the official said. | "They actually see themselves as the real target. They know that they have to step up, and they are ready to, from what we can see," the official said. |
| Australia promised to send 600 troops and eight fighter jets – to help the US fight what Tony Abbott, its prime minister, called the Isis "death cult". | Australia promised to send 600 troops and eight fighter jets – to help the US fight what Tony Abbott, its prime minister, called the Isis "death cult". |
| Both the UK and the US have ruled out sending ground troops to areas of Iraq and Syria controlled by Isis jihadis but Cameron hinted that the UK would be prepared to join the US in conducting a bombing campaign against Isis as part of a wider alliance. Cameron heightened his rhetoric against the "monsters" in Isis after a video emerged late on Saturday night purporting to show a masked fighter beheading Haines before threatening to kill Henning, a 47-year-old former taxi driver and volunteer on an aid convoy. | Both the UK and the US have ruled out sending ground troops to areas of Iraq and Syria controlled by Isis jihadis but Cameron hinted that the UK would be prepared to join the US in conducting a bombing campaign against Isis as part of a wider alliance. Cameron heightened his rhetoric against the "monsters" in Isis after a video emerged late on Saturday night purporting to show a masked fighter beheading Haines before threatening to kill Henning, a 47-year-old former taxi driver and volunteer on an aid convoy. |
| The jihadi, who had the same London accent as the man dubbed "Jihadi John" in previous hostage videos, warned Cameron that he would have more blood on his hands if the UK continued to fight Isis. It is the third recent film; the others showed the murder of two US journalists – James Foley and Steven Sotloff – which have emerged at intervals of 10 to 14 days since 19 August. | The jihadi, who had the same London accent as the man dubbed "Jihadi John" in previous hostage videos, warned Cameron that he would have more blood on his hands if the UK continued to fight Isis. It is the third recent film; the others showed the murder of two US journalists – James Foley and Steven Sotloff – which have emerged at intervals of 10 to 14 days since 19 August. |
| In his statement, Cameron made no mention of recalling parliament to debate the idea of strikes, which he has promised to do before ordering military action unless confronted by an emergency. MPs have broken up for party conferences until 14 October. It is also understood the prime minister will be carrying on with a speech in Scotland on Monday, making a last-ditch plea to save the union. | In his statement, Cameron made no mention of recalling parliament to debate the idea of strikes, which he has promised to do before ordering military action unless confronted by an emergency. MPs have broken up for party conferences until 14 October. It is also understood the prime minister will be carrying on with a speech in Scotland on Monday, making a last-ditch plea to save the union. |
| He is under pressure to act immediately from hawks within the Conservative party, including the former defence secretary Liam Fox, who are pushing for the UK to join air strikes. Meanwhile, military chiefs, including Lord Dannatt, a former chief of the UK army, warned that the strength of Isis could grow if the government does not "confront and destroy" its influence. | He is under pressure to act immediately from hawks within the Conservative party, including the former defence secretary Liam Fox, who are pushing for the UK to join air strikes. Meanwhile, military chiefs, including Lord Dannatt, a former chief of the UK army, warned that the strength of Isis could grow if the government does not "confront and destroy" its influence. |
| However, many MPs are still reluctant to see Britain get caught up in another Iraq war and Conservative whips fear Cameron could lose a vote on Isis like he did last year on air strikes against Syria's Bashar al-Assad. The mood among backbenchers is more mixed this time, as some who voted against strikes on Assad are more prepared to sanction bombing Isis. Sarah Wollaston, the Totnes MP, for example, is canvassing her constituents on the issue, saying she believed it would be right to support the prime minister if he requests approval to take military action against "an unimaginable evil spreading rapidly across northern Iraq". | However, many MPs are still reluctant to see Britain get caught up in another Iraq war and Conservative whips fear Cameron could lose a vote on Isis like he did last year on air strikes against Syria's Bashar al-Assad. The mood among backbenchers is more mixed this time, as some who voted against strikes on Assad are more prepared to sanction bombing Isis. Sarah Wollaston, the Totnes MP, for example, is canvassing her constituents on the issue, saying she believed it would be right to support the prime minister if he requests approval to take military action against "an unimaginable evil spreading rapidly across northern Iraq". |
| While it is possible strikes against Isis in Iraq could gain parliamentary support, the government is likely to have more difficulty persuading MPs of the legality of action against jihadis in Syria. | While it is possible strikes against Isis in Iraq could gain parliamentary support, the government is likely to have more difficulty persuading MPs of the legality of action against jihadis in Syria. |
| A new briefing note for MPs by the House of Commons library says: "Action in Syria will be difficult to justify legally without a request for assistance from the Assad government, and it is unlikely that the west could be seen to be responding to such a request. The British government has said that any action in Syria will comply with international law, and the most likely way to achieve this would be to claim that military action is for humanitarian purposes, using the Responsibility to Protect doctrine. This remains controversial, however, without a United Nations security council resolution to authorise it." | A new briefing note for MPs by the House of Commons library says: "Action in Syria will be difficult to justify legally without a request for assistance from the Assad government, and it is unlikely that the west could be seen to be responding to such a request. The British government has said that any action in Syria will comply with international law, and the most likely way to achieve this would be to claim that military action is for humanitarian purposes, using the Responsibility to Protect doctrine. This remains controversial, however, without a United Nations security council resolution to authorise it." |
| Last week, Hammond appeared to reject the idea of air strikes on Isis in Syria, but No 10 quickly overruled him and made clear all options remain open. | Last week, Hammond appeared to reject the idea of air strikes on Isis in Syria, but No 10 quickly overruled him and made clear all options remain open. |
| The US carried out at least nine air strikes last week, while the UK has pledged to help arm the Kurdish resistance forces in Iraq. These actions were both mentioned in the Isis video, entitled A Message to the Allies of America, as reasons behind the killing of Haines. | The US carried out at least nine air strikes last week, while the UK has pledged to help arm the Kurdish resistance forces in Iraq. These actions were both mentioned in the Isis video, entitled A Message to the Allies of America, as reasons behind the killing of Haines. |
| The US president, Barack Obama, condemned the "barbaric murder" of Haines. "Our hearts go out to the family of Mr Haines and to the people of the United Kingdom," he said. "The United States stands shoulder to shoulder tonight with our close friend and ally in grief and resolve. We will work with the UK and a broad coalition of nations from the region and around the world to bring the perpetrators of this outrageous act to justice, and to degrade and destroy this threat to the people of our countries, the region and the world." | The US president, Barack Obama, condemned the "barbaric murder" of Haines. "Our hearts go out to the family of Mr Haines and to the people of the United Kingdom," he said. "The United States stands shoulder to shoulder tonight with our close friend and ally in grief and resolve. We will work with the UK and a broad coalition of nations from the region and around the world to bring the perpetrators of this outrageous act to justice, and to degrade and destroy this threat to the people of our countries, the region and the world." |