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| Islamic State fight: Cameron says UK will 'play its part' | Islamic State fight: Cameron says UK will 'play its part' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| David Cameron has said the UK is ready to "play its part" in fighting Islamic State, which he called an "evil against which the whole world must unite". | David Cameron has said the UK is ready to "play its part" in fighting Islamic State, which he called an "evil against which the whole world must unite". |
| Speaking at the UN in New York, the prime minister said "past mistakes" must not be an "excuse" for inaction. | Speaking at the UN in New York, the prime minister said "past mistakes" must not be an "excuse" for inaction. |
| He spoke as US and Arab jets continued bombing Islamic State (IS) targets in Syria, after attacks began on Tuesday. | He spoke as US and Arab jets continued bombing Islamic State (IS) targets in Syria, after attacks began on Tuesday. |
| The UK cabinet will discuss plans for air strikes against IS in Iraq later, with Parliament due to vote on Friday. | The UK cabinet will discuss plans for air strikes against IS in Iraq later, with Parliament due to vote on Friday. |
| In his UN speech, Mr Cameron said the Iraqi government had made a "clear request" for international military assistance against IS, which has taken control of large parts of Iraq and Syria in recent months. | In his UN speech, Mr Cameron said the Iraqi government had made a "clear request" for international military assistance against IS, which has taken control of large parts of Iraq and Syria in recent months. |
| He said this provided a "clear basis in international law for action". | He said this provided a "clear basis in international law for action". |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| by Nick Bryant, BBC United Nations correspondent | by Nick Bryant, BBC United Nations correspondent |
| David Cameron's address at the UN felt like a dress rehearsal for the speech he'll deliver in the House of Commons on Friday, and his target audience seemed to be parliamentarians as much as diplomats in the hall. | David Cameron's address at the UN felt like a dress rehearsal for the speech he'll deliver in the House of Commons on Friday, and his target audience seemed to be parliamentarians as much as diplomats in the hall. |
| Other than a few cursory words about Middle East peace, Ukraine and the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, it was devoted almost exclusively to making the case for British air strikes in Iraq. | Other than a few cursory words about Middle East peace, Ukraine and the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, it was devoted almost exclusively to making the case for British air strikes in Iraq. |
| Referring to the war there a decade ago, a conflict lodged so firmly in the minds of parliamentarians, he said that past mistakes should not become an "excuse for indifference or inaction". | Referring to the war there a decade ago, a conflict lodged so firmly in the minds of parliamentarians, he said that past mistakes should not become an "excuse for indifference or inaction". |
| He was also careful to spell out the legal case for air strikes in Iraq, a touchier issue in Westminster than it is in New York. | He was also careful to spell out the legal case for air strikes in Iraq, a touchier issue in Westminster than it is in New York. |
| Mr Cameron said he did not believe Western countries should send ground troops in to fight, but there was a place for action by armed forces. | Mr Cameron said he did not believe Western countries should send ground troops in to fight, but there was a place for action by armed forces. |
| As well as air strikes, he said Western forces could equip, train and support those who are "fighting on the front line for their societies and for their countries and for their freedom". | As well as air strikes, he said Western forces could equip, train and support those who are "fighting on the front line for their societies and for their countries and for their freedom". |
| He said IS, also known as Isil and Isis, had killed people of "every faith and none" and had "murderous plans to expand its borders well beyond Iraq and Syria and to carry out terrorist atrocities right across the world". | He said IS, also known as Isil and Isis, had killed people of "every faith and none" and had "murderous plans to expand its borders well beyond Iraq and Syria and to carry out terrorist atrocities right across the world". |
| It comes after a third night of US-led air strikes against the militants targeted oil refineries in Syria. | |
| Five civilians and 14 IS fighters were killed in the east of the country, according to UK-based activist group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. | |
| British jihadists are among those thought to have been killed in air strikes earlier this week. | British jihadists are among those thought to have been killed in air strikes earlier this week. |
| Khadijah Kamara told the BBC she believed her 19-year-old son Ibrahim, who went to Syria in February, was among the dead. | Khadijah Kamara told the BBC she believed her 19-year-old son Ibrahim, who went to Syria in February, was among the dead. |
| The 35-year-old, from Brighton, said: "I forgive him, may God have mercy on him. I'm not angry. | The 35-year-old, from Brighton, said: "I forgive him, may God have mercy on him. I'm not angry. |
| "I just pray that God forgives him. Think about how your actions will affect your family. The impact on people who care about you." | |
| He is thought to have been fighting with al-Qaeda affiliate group Jabhat al-Nusra, BBC Newsnight's Secunder Kermani said. | |
| Our reporter added that a source in Syria had told him that, as well as Mr Kamara, three British men of Bengali heritage from the London area were killed on Monday. | |
| A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We are aware of reports of the deaths of British nationals in Syria." | A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We are aware of reports of the deaths of British nationals in Syria." |
| Addressing the UN, Mr Cameron said it was "right" to learn lessons from the past - especially from the 2003 invasion of Iraq - but leaders must not be "frozen with fear". | |
| "Isolation and withdrawing from a problem like Isil will only make matters worse," he said. | "Isolation and withdrawing from a problem like Isil will only make matters worse," he said. |
| "We must not allow past mistakes to become an excuse for indifference or inaction." | "We must not allow past mistakes to become an excuse for indifference or inaction." |
| He also said: | He also said: |
| 'Network of death' | 'Network of death' |
| Mr Cameron said IS had recruited fighters from around the world, including 500 from Britain. | Mr Cameron said IS had recruited fighters from around the world, including 500 from Britain. |
| One of these Britons "almost certainly" killed the two American journalists and the British aid worker whose beheadings featured on IS videos posted online in recent weeks, he said. | One of these Britons "almost certainly" killed the two American journalists and the British aid worker whose beheadings featured on IS videos posted online in recent weeks, he said. |
| The UN Security Council has adopted a binding resolution compelling states to prevent their nationals joining jihadists in Iraq and Syria. | The UN Security Council has adopted a binding resolution compelling states to prevent their nationals joining jihadists in Iraq and Syria. |
| US President Barack Obama chaired the session and called for global efforts to dismantle the IS "network of death". | US President Barack Obama chaired the session and called for global efforts to dismantle the IS "network of death". |
| The president said more than 40 countries had offered to join the coalition against IS. | |
| The US started bombing IS targets in Iraq last month and began air attacks in Syria on Tuesday. | The US started bombing IS targets in Iraq last month and began air attacks in Syria on Tuesday. |
| Labour and the Liberal Democrats are supporting the plan for UK air strikes in Iraq. | Labour and the Liberal Democrats are supporting the plan for UK air strikes in Iraq. |
| Former Liberal Democrat leader Lord Ashdown said he would "vote yes for what the government is proposing" if he were still an MP. | Former Liberal Democrat leader Lord Ashdown said he would "vote yes for what the government is proposing" if he were still an MP. |
| Speaking to Radio 4's Today programme, he said: "There will be those who oppose this and I respect them completely. | Speaking to Radio 4's Today programme, he said: "There will be those who oppose this and I respect them completely. |
| "However, I think the case is relatively simply made. There is a convulsion of barbarity in the Middle East, it is changing the border, destabilising states and could lead to a regional war, there's a great danger of that. | "However, I think the case is relatively simply made. There is a convulsion of barbarity in the Middle East, it is changing the border, destabilising states and could lead to a regional war, there's a great danger of that. |
| "It certainly threatens the stability of our nations in the West," he added. | "It certainly threatens the stability of our nations in the West," he added. |
| BBC deputy political editor James Landale said the government was "confident" of winning Friday's vote - but it did not propose military action in Syria because of the legal impediments of acting there without the support of the Assad regime. | BBC deputy political editor James Landale said the government was "confident" of winning Friday's vote - but it did not propose military action in Syria because of the legal impediments of acting there without the support of the Assad regime. |
| However, former UK attorney general Dominic Grieve told BBC Newsnight the Iraqi government's request for help could make it possible for the UK to take military action in Syria without breaching international law. | However, former UK attorney general Dominic Grieve told BBC Newsnight the Iraqi government's request for help could make it possible for the UK to take military action in Syria without breaching international law. |
| He said there was evidence that some attacks were "spilling over the border" from Syria into Iraq, so the UK could use "reasonable, necessary and proportionate means" to help Iraq defend itself. | He said there was evidence that some attacks were "spilling over the border" from Syria into Iraq, so the UK could use "reasonable, necessary and proportionate means" to help Iraq defend itself. |
| He said it might also be possible to make a legal case for intervening in Syria under the "doctrine of humanitarian necessity" to protect people from IS genocide. | He said it might also be possible to make a legal case for intervening in Syria under the "doctrine of humanitarian necessity" to protect people from IS genocide. |
| Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? You can get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? You can get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |