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UN meeting: Obama chairs counter-terrorism summit US slaps sanctions on IS as Obama holds counter-terror summit
(35 minutes later)
The US president is chairing a UN gathering of world leaders to discuss counter-terrorism, seeking support for the fight against Islamic State (IS). The US has said it is imposing new sanctions on Islamic State (IS) figures to cut off their sources of financing.
Barack Obama said defeating the group in Syria would only be possible if President Bashar al-Assad stepped down. It also named individuals and groups as foreign terrorist fighters, including four British and three French citizens.
Ahead of the meeting, the US said it was imposing new sanctions on IS figures aimed at cutting off their sources of financing. The announcement came on the day of a summit hosted by US President Barack Obama about tackling IS, on the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York.
The meeting is being held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Mr Obama said defeating the group in Syria would only be possible if President Bashar al-Assad stepped down.
Ahead of the counter-terrorism meeting, the US imposed sanctions and penalties on 35 individuals and groups, which include four British and three French citizens. The US imposed sanctions and penalties on 35 individuals and groups as foreign terrorist fighters - a designation that automatically incurs penalties.
The terrorist designations cover a wide range of nationalities, meant to highlight the global nature of the IS threat, reports the BBC's Barbara Plett Usher in New York. The individuals targeted come from a wide range of countries - among them Russia, France, and the UK - in what is seen as an effort to highlight the global nature of the threat from Islamic State, says the BBC's Barbara Plett Usher in New York.
Among them are four British nationals, including two women. One is Aqsa Mahmood, who is described as an IS recruiter and member of an IS female police unit; and Sally Jones, the wife of an IS hacker killed recently in a drone strike. Russian criticism
Two British nationals are on the list. One is named as Nasser Muthana, originally from Cardiff, who admitted in an IS video that he had fought in battles in Syria.
The other is Sally Jones, the wife of an IS hacker killed recently in a US drone strike in Syria.
Russia, which is president of the UN Security Council for the month, will chair its own meeting on Wednesday on countering extremism.Russia, which is president of the UN Security Council for the month, will chair its own meeting on Wednesday on countering extremism.
On Tuesday, Russia criticised the US counter-terrorism summit at the United Nations, calling it disrespectful.On Tuesday, Russia criticised the US counter-terrorism summit at the United Nations, calling it disrespectful.
"This initiative seriously undermines UN efforts in this direction," Russia's UN envoy Vitaly Churkin was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies."This initiative seriously undermines UN efforts in this direction," Russia's UN envoy Vitaly Churkin was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies.
Separately, France's foreign minister said Russia had talked a lot about striking IS, but had not yet taken any concrete action against the group.Separately, France's foreign minister said Russia had talked a lot about striking IS, but had not yet taken any concrete action against the group.
"You have to look at who is doing what. The international community is striking Daesh (IS). France is striking Daesh. The Russians, for the time being, are not at all," Laurent Fabius told a news conference in New York. "You have to look at who is doing what. The international community is striking Daesh [IS]. France is striking Daesh. The Russians, for the time being, are not at all," Laurent Fabius told a news conference in New York.
"If one is against the terrorists, it is not abnormal to strike the terrorists," he added."If one is against the terrorists, it is not abnormal to strike the terrorists," he added.
On Monday, Mr Obama and the leaders of Russia, China and Iran addressed the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on its 70th anniversary. On Monday, Mr Obama met Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the UNGA to discuss the Syrian war.
Russian President Vladimir Putin met Mr Obama on the sidelines of the UNGA to discuss the Syrian war.
The US and Russian leaders have long differed on Syria. The US and France say Syria's President Bashar al-Assad must go, while Russia has been a staunch ally of the regime in Damascus and has recently stepped up military support.The US and Russian leaders have long differed on Syria. The US and France say Syria's President Bashar al-Assad must go, while Russia has been a staunch ally of the regime in Damascus and has recently stepped up military support.
Did Putin upstage Obama at UN Syria summit?
In his speech to the UNGA on Monday, Mr Obama said compromise among powers would be essential to ending the Syrian conflict, which has claimed more than 200,000 lives and forced four million people to flee abroad.
He also called for the creation of a "broad anti-terror coalition" to fight IS, comparing it to the international forces that fought against Nazi Germany in World War Two.
Some Western leaders have recently softened their stance towards the Syrian president, conceding that he might be able to stay in power during a political transition.
Syria's civil warSyria's civil war
What's the human cost?What's the human cost?
More than 250,000 Syrians have been killed and a million injured in four and a half years of armed conflict, which began with anti-government protests before escalating into a full-scale civil war.More than 250,000 Syrians have been killed and a million injured in four and a half years of armed conflict, which began with anti-government protests before escalating into a full-scale civil war.
And the survivors?And the survivors?
More than 11 million others have been forced from their homes, four million of them abroad, as forces loyal to President Assad and those opposed to his rule battle each other - as well as jihadist militants from IS. Growing numbers of refugees are going to Europe.More than 11 million others have been forced from their homes, four million of them abroad, as forces loyal to President Assad and those opposed to his rule battle each other - as well as jihadist militants from IS. Growing numbers of refugees are going to Europe.
How has the world reacted?How has the world reacted?
Regional and world powers have also been drawn into the conflict. Iran and Russia, along with Lebanon's Hezbollah movement, are propping up the Alawite-led government. Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar are backing the Sunni-dominated opposition, along with the US, UK and France.Regional and world powers have also been drawn into the conflict. Iran and Russia, along with Lebanon's Hezbollah movement, are propping up the Alawite-led government. Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar are backing the Sunni-dominated opposition, along with the US, UK and France.
Syria's civil war explainedSyria's civil war explained
Diplomatic goals behind Putin's Syria build-upDiplomatic goals behind Putin's Syria build-up
Migrant crisis: Fleeing life under Islamic State in SyriaMigrant crisis: Fleeing life under Islamic State in Syria
The battle for Syria and Iraq in mapsThe battle for Syria and Iraq in maps
The threat of IS extremists and the flow of Syrian refugees to Europe has added urgency to the search for a deal to end the civil war.
Observers also continue to report attacks on civilians by government forces.
A US-led coalition has been carrying out air strikes against IS in Syria and Iraq for more than a year.A US-led coalition has been carrying out air strikes against IS in Syria and Iraq for more than a year.
The UK announced this month it had carried out a drone strike against two British citizens in Syria, but has yet to fly manned operations in Syrian airspace.The UK announced this month it had carried out a drone strike against two British citizens in Syria, but has yet to fly manned operations in Syrian airspace.
Over the weekend, France confirmed its first air strikes against IS targets. A number of other countries, including Australia, Canada and Jordan, have also conducted bombing missions.Over the weekend, France confirmed its first air strikes against IS targets. A number of other countries, including Australia, Canada and Jordan, have also conducted bombing missions.