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David Cameron 'not ruling out' Islamic State air strikes David Cameron 'not ruling out' Islamic State air strikes
(35 minutes later)
David Cameron has said he will not rule anything out with regards to military action against Islamic State, which is holding a Briton hostage.David Cameron has said he will not rule anything out with regards to military action against Islamic State, which is holding a Briton hostage.
But speaking ahead of a Nato summit in Wales, the prime minister told the BBC any action, including military force, must not be "Western intervention over the heads of neighbouring states".But speaking ahead of a Nato summit in Wales, the prime minister told the BBC any action, including military force, must not be "Western intervention over the heads of neighbouring states".
He and Barack Obama warned against an "isolationist approach" in the Times.He and Barack Obama warned against an "isolationist approach" in the Times.
Mr Cameron also reiterated that the UK would not pay ransoms to kidnappers.Mr Cameron also reiterated that the UK would not pay ransoms to kidnappers.
Meanwhile, there have been growing calls for talks with Syria's President Bashar al-Assad to reinforce efforts against the extremist group. Separately, there have been growing calls for talks with Syria's President Bashar al-Assad to reinforce efforts against extremist group IS.
The US is using air strikes against IS but Britain has not yet done so. The US is using air strikes against IS but Britain has not yet done so. Any action in the region must be "properly thought through and patiently delivered", said Mr Cameron.
Any action in the region must be "properly thought through and patiently delivered", he said. 'Pursue national interests'
'Barbaric killers'
When asked about the possibility of the UK taking military action, Mr Cameron said: "I certainly don't rule anything out. We should pursue our national interests.When asked about the possibility of the UK taking military action, Mr Cameron said: "I certainly don't rule anything out. We should pursue our national interests.
"The most important thing to consider is that we mustn't see this as something where you have a Western intervention over the heads of neighbouring states and leaving others to pick up the pieces."The most important thing to consider is that we mustn't see this as something where you have a Western intervention over the heads of neighbouring states and leaving others to pick up the pieces.
"What's required is a strategy to help those on the ground, and to have an Iraqi government there that can make a real difference, Kurdish forces that can make a difference and then we ask what more we can do to help them. It needs to be that way round." "What's required is a strategy to help those on the ground, and to have an Iraqi government that can make a real difference, Kurdish forces that can make a difference, and then we ask what more we can do to help them. It needs to be that way round."
On the issue of how the UK deals with hostage situations, he said had previously ordered several "extremely difficult" hostage rescues and that the UK had "the right policy of saying that we won't pay ransoms to terrorists who kidnap our citizens". He added that there was "no simple, straight-forward military led answer" but a "tough, long-term, intelligent approach" rather than a single intervention was required.
IS has threatened to kill the Briton it is holding unless US air strikes on its positions in Iraq are halted.
The threat came during a video posted online on Tuesday showing the killing of US journalist Steven Sotloff. IS killed another US journalist, James Foley, last month.
The Briton has family in Scotland but relatives do not want him named.
Mr Cameron said the UK had "the right policy of saying that we won't pay ransoms to terrorists who kidnap our citizens".
"I know that this is difficult for families when they are the victims of these terrorists - but I'm absolutely convinced from what I've seen that this terrorist organisation, and indeed others around the world, have made tens of millions of dollars from these ransoms - and they spend that money on arming themselves, on kidnapping more people and on plotting terrorist outrages, including in our own country," he said."I know that this is difficult for families when they are the victims of these terrorists - but I'm absolutely convinced from what I've seen that this terrorist organisation, and indeed others around the world, have made tens of millions of dollars from these ransoms - and they spend that money on arming themselves, on kidnapping more people and on plotting terrorist outrages, including in our own country," he said.
He also called on other world leaders to apply the same view.He also called on other world leaders to apply the same view.
In their joint newspaper article, Mr Cameron and the US president said those who called for isolationism "misunderstood the nature of security in the 21st Century".In their joint newspaper article, Mr Cameron and the US president said those who called for isolationism "misunderstood the nature of security in the 21st Century".
"Developments in other parts of the world, particularly in Iraq and Syria, threaten our security at home," they said."Developments in other parts of the world, particularly in Iraq and Syria, threaten our security at home," they said.
They also said the UK and US would "not waver in our determination to confront" IS, adding: "Countries like Britain and America will not be cowed by barbaric killers."They also said the UK and US would "not waver in our determination to confront" IS, adding: "Countries like Britain and America will not be cowed by barbaric killers."
After a meeting of the government's Cobra emergency committee on Wednesday, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said air strikes had not been ruled out - but the government said there had been no change of strategy towards dealing with IS.After a meeting of the government's Cobra emergency committee on Wednesday, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said air strikes had not been ruled out - but the government said there had been no change of strategy towards dealing with IS.
Mr Hammond also said "every possible option" would be considered to protect a UK hostage being held by IS. Mr Hammond also said "every possible option" would be considered to protect the UK hostage.
An IS militant threatened to kill the Briton, unless US air strikes in Iraq stopped, during a video showing the killing of US journalist Steven Sotloff. IS also killed a US hostage last month. Former Defence Secretary Liam Fox has also called on the prime minister to support military action.
The Briton has family in Scotland but relatives do not want him named.
Later, former Defence Secretary Liam Fox called on the prime minister to support military action.
"I detect a hardening of attitude among MPs who, with every atrocity, want to know why we're not using every means at our disposal to deal with the threat," he added."I detect a hardening of attitude among MPs who, with every atrocity, want to know why we're not using every means at our disposal to deal with the threat," he added.
'Talk to Assad'
A year ago, British MPs narrowly voted not to take military action against the regime of Syrian President Mr al-Assad, which was accused of using chemical weapons against its own people during the country's ongoing civil war.A year ago, British MPs narrowly voted not to take military action against the regime of Syrian President Mr al-Assad, which was accused of using chemical weapons against its own people during the country's ongoing civil war.
But the regime opposes IS, leading to calls for talks with Mr Assad.But the regime opposes IS, leading to calls for talks with Mr Assad.
Sir William Patey, a former British ambassador to Iraq and Saudi Arabia, told BBC Newsnight Britain "shouldn't rule out" a deal that "brings together the Assad regime and the known IS opposition together with Iran, with Russia, with the Saudis".Sir William Patey, a former British ambassador to Iraq and Saudi Arabia, told BBC Newsnight Britain "shouldn't rule out" a deal that "brings together the Assad regime and the known IS opposition together with Iran, with Russia, with the Saudis".
Labour MP Peter Hain, former Northern Ireland and Welsh secretary, said the West could not "resolve the Syrian side of the conflict" with IS unless it dealt with Mr Assad.Labour MP Peter Hain, former Northern Ireland and Welsh secretary, said the West could not "resolve the Syrian side of the conflict" with IS unless it dealt with Mr Assad.
Former International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell said Britain should try to "galvanise the United Nations into taking action". Ukraine crisis
Also in their Times article, Mr Cameron and Mr Obama said Nato must stand up to Russia, which has been widely accused of sending troops into Ukraine. Mr Cameron also spoke about Russia, which has been widely accused of sending troops into Ukraine.
"The Ukrainians know that they have our support and... sanctions pressure is the right way to tell the Russians that what they are doing is unacceptable," he said.
And in their Times article, Mr Cameron and Mr Obama said Nato must stand up to Russia.
"With Russia trying to force a sovereign state to abandon its right to democracy at the barrel of a gun, we should support Ukraine's right to determine its own democratic future and continue our efforts to enhance Ukrainian capabilities," they wrote."With Russia trying to force a sovereign state to abandon its right to democracy at the barrel of a gun, we should support Ukraine's right to determine its own democratic future and continue our efforts to enhance Ukrainian capabilities," they wrote.
The two-day Nato summit will begin in Newport later.