France won’t back US over air-strikes on Islamic State militants

Paris: France’s President rejected any cooperation with Bashar al-Assad whom he accused of being a “de-facto ally” of jihadists wreaking havoc in Syria and Iraq, and urged a “humanitarian and military” response to the threat.

Speaking at an annual Paris gathering of French ambassadors , Mr Francois Hollande touched on crises in both countries as well as those rocking Ukraine and Libya — all of which he said affected France.

“Assad cannot be a partner in the fight against terrorism, he is the de-facto ally of jihadists,” he said.

Mr Hollande reiterated his proposal to hold an international conference in Paris “to organise the coordination of international action against the Islamic State on humanitarian, security and military fronts”.

The United States has carried out reconnaissance flights on Islamic State positions in Syria in surveillance seen as a precursor to strikes. Several countries have agreed to back the US.

Mr Assad has agreed to cooperate with the attacks.