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| James Foley 'beheading': West condemns 'barbaric' murder | James Foley 'beheading': West condemns 'barbaric' murder |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The US, UK and France have expressed abhorrence at the apparent beheading of American journalist James Foley by an Islamic State (IS) militant. | The US, UK and France have expressed abhorrence at the apparent beheading of American journalist James Foley by an Islamic State (IS) militant. |
| The jihadist group released a video of Foley, missing in Syria since 2012, saying his killing was revenge for US air strikes on its fighters in Iraq. | The jihadist group released a video of Foley, missing in Syria since 2012, saying his killing was revenge for US air strikes on its fighters in Iraq. |
| France said, if confirmed, it was barbaric; the UK said it was depraved. | France said, if confirmed, it was barbaric; the UK said it was depraved. |
| Foley's mother Diane said he "gave his life trying to expose the world to the suffering of the Syrian people." | Foley's mother Diane said he "gave his life trying to expose the world to the suffering of the Syrian people." |
| President Barack Obama is due to give a statement later. But White House National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said: "If genuine, we are appalled by the brutal murder of an innocent American journalist." | President Barack Obama is due to give a statement later. But White House National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said: "If genuine, we are appalled by the brutal murder of an innocent American journalist." |
| Foley, 40, has reported extensively across the Middle East, working for US publication GlobalPost and other media outlets including French news agency AFP. | Foley, 40, has reported extensively across the Middle East, working for US publication GlobalPost and other media outlets including French news agency AFP. |
| In a statement, GlobalPost asked for "prayers for Jim and his family", adding that it was waiting for the video to be verified. | In a statement, GlobalPost asked for "prayers for Jim and his family", adding that it was waiting for the video to be verified. |
| British accent | British accent |
| In the video, titled A Message to America, a man identified as James Foley is dressed in an orange jumpsuit, kneeling in desert-like terrain beside an armed man dressed in black. | In the video, titled A Message to America, a man identified as James Foley is dressed in an orange jumpsuit, kneeling in desert-like terrain beside an armed man dressed in black. |
| He gives a message to his family and links his imminent death to the US government's bombing campaign of IS targets in Iraq. | He gives a message to his family and links his imminent death to the US government's bombing campaign of IS targets in Iraq. |
| Clearly under duress, he says: "I call on my friends, family and loved ones to rise up against my real killers, the US government, for what will happen to me is only a result of their complacency and criminality." | Clearly under duress, he says: "I call on my friends, family and loved ones to rise up against my real killers, the US government, for what will happen to me is only a result of their complacency and criminality." |
| Then the masked militant, who speaks with a British accent, delivers a warning to the US government: "You are no longer fighting an insurgency. We are an Islamic army and a state that has been accepted by a large number of Muslims worldwide. | Then the masked militant, who speaks with a British accent, delivers a warning to the US government: "You are no longer fighting an insurgency. We are an Islamic army and a state that has been accepted by a large number of Muslims worldwide. |
| "So any attempt by you Obama to deny the Muslims their rights of living in safety under the Islamic caliphate will result in the bloodshed of your people." | "So any attempt by you Obama to deny the Muslims their rights of living in safety under the Islamic caliphate will result in the bloodshed of your people." |
| After he speaks, the militant appears to start cutting at his captive's neck before the video fades to black. | After he speaks, the militant appears to start cutting at his captive's neck before the video fades to black. |
| His body is then seen on the ground. | His body is then seen on the ground. |
| Another captive, identified as American journalist Steven Sotloff, is shown at the end, with the warning that his fate depends on President Barack Obama's next move. | Another captive, identified as American journalist Steven Sotloff, is shown at the end, with the warning that his fate depends on President Barack Obama's next move. |
| Mr Sotloff was abducted in northern Syria a year ago. | Mr Sotloff was abducted in northern Syria a year ago. |
| 'Cowardly assassination' | |
| French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said that if James Foley's death was confirmed, "this cowardly assassination would show the true face of this caliphate of barbarism". | |
| President Francois Hollande told the Le Monde newspaper there should be an international conference to tackle Islamic State jihadists. | President Francois Hollande told the Le Monde newspaper there should be an international conference to tackle Islamic State jihadists. |
| UK Prime Minister David Cameron said "if true, the murder of James Foley is shocking and depraved." | UK Prime Minister David Cameron said "if true, the murder of James Foley is shocking and depraved." |
| Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond acknowledged the militant appeared to be British. The involvement of a significant number of UK nationals in Syria and Iraq was "one of the reasons why this organisation represents such a direct threat to the UK's national security", he told the BBC. | Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond acknowledged the militant appeared to be British. The involvement of a significant number of UK nationals in Syria and Iraq was "one of the reasons why this organisation represents such a direct threat to the UK's national security", he told the BBC. |
| US officials confirmed that they had seen the video. One said it appeared to be authentic while two others said the victim was Foley, Associated Press reports. | US officials confirmed that they had seen the video. One said it appeared to be authentic while two others said the victim was Foley, Associated Press reports. |
| Foley has spent many years reporting from the world's trouble spots. | |
| He covered the war in Libya and was detained there for more than 40 days. | |
| "I'm drawn to the drama of the conflict and trying to expose untold stories," he told the BBC in 2012. | "I'm drawn to the drama of the conflict and trying to expose untold stories," he told the BBC in 2012. |
| "There's extreme violence, but there's a will to find who these people really are. And I think that's what's really inspiring about it." | "There's extreme violence, but there's a will to find who these people really are. And I think that's what's really inspiring about it." |
| Foley's mother Diane, writing on Facebook, urged the militants to free any other hostages. | Foley's mother Diane, writing on Facebook, urged the militants to free any other hostages. |
| "Like Jim, they are innocents. They have no control over American government policy in Iraq, Syria or anywhere in the world," she wrote. | "Like Jim, they are innocents. They have no control over American government policy in Iraq, Syria or anywhere in the world," she wrote. |
| The US launched air strikes almost a fortnight ago, in an attempt to help Kurdish forces curb the advance of Islamic State militants in northern Iraq and recapture the Mosul dam, the biggest in Iraq. | The US launched air strikes almost a fortnight ago, in an attempt to help Kurdish forces curb the advance of Islamic State militants in northern Iraq and recapture the Mosul dam, the biggest in Iraq. |
| IS has been accused of massacring hundreds of people in areas under its control in Iraq and also in eastern Syria. | IS has been accused of massacring hundreds of people in areas under its control in Iraq and also in eastern Syria. |
| President Obama has condemned IS militants as "a threat to all Iraqis and to the entire region". | President Obama has condemned IS militants as "a threat to all Iraqis and to the entire region". |
| Who are Islamic State (IS)? | Who are Islamic State (IS)? |
| Islamic State activities as of 14 August | Islamic State activities as of 14 August |
| Are you in Syria or the wider region? What is your reaction to this story? You can send us your comments by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line "James Foley". | Are you in Syria or the wider region? What is your reaction to this story? You can send us your comments by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line "James Foley". |