Brother urges Paris attack suspect, Salah Abdeslam, to surrender

Brussels: The brother of Salah Abdeslam, who is thought to have played a key role in the Paris attacks and is believed to be on the run in Belgium, has appealed to him to turn himself in.

Mohamed Abdeslam told Belgian broadcaster RTBF Sunday he would rather see his "brother in prison than in a cemetery."

Mohamed's other brother, Brahim, was one of the suicide bombers in the Nov. 13 Paris attacks that killed 130 people.

He said he had noticed a change in his brothers' behaviour about six months ago, when they gave up drinking and began going to the mosque occasionally, but said there was never any sign of radicalisation.

He said he was convinced his brothers were manipulated, adding he hoped that Salah had a change of heart before the Parris attacks happened and that he wasn't actually involved.

Asked if he had a message for his brother, he said: "Surrender."

Read: Brother of Paris suspect 'convinced' he balked at last minute

The mayor of one of Brussels' many municipalities has told Belgian media that the capital is still facing a grave threat, according to the prime minister.

Schaerbeek Mayor Bernard Clerfayt said Sunday: "There are two terrorists in the Brussels region that could commit very dangerous acts."

One of the suspected Paris attackers, Salah Abdeslam, is at large and is known to have crossed into Belgium the morning after the Nov. 13 attacks. The source of the mayor's information about a second suspect wasn't immediately clear and the prime minister's office declined to comment.

Belgium's national Crisis Centre on Saturday raised the threat alert in the Brussels region to Level 4, which indicates a "serious and immediate threat."

Clerfayt said it was necessary to try to anticipate and prevent any such acts and their consequences.

He said: "As long as this threat is present, we must be very attentive."

France's defence minister says French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle sent to help operations against Islamic State militants in Syria will be "operational" from Monday and "ready to act."

France has intensified its aerial bombing in Syria since IS militants attacked a concert hall, cafes and restaurants and a stadium in Paris, killing 130 people and wounding hundreds.

Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told French media on Sunday that IS must be destroyed at all costs.

Le Drian said: "We must annihilate Islamic State worldwide," adding: "that's the only possible direction." He said any country "who wants to participate militarily is welcome."

President Francois Hollande is meeting in Paris with British Prime Minister David Cameron on Monday, then going to Washington and Moscow later in the week to push for a stronger international coalition against IS.

British Prime Minister David Cameron is expected to outline his plan for combatting the Islamic State group this week as he moves toward seeking Parliament's approval for airstrikes on the group's Syrian strongholds.

The Sunday Times said Cameron will publish a seven-point plan on Syria this week that will include a blueprint for the nation's future.

Foreign Minister Philip Hammond has said Cameron will go to Parliament once he believes there is a consensus in favour of airstrikes.

Cameron expects the passage of a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for united action against the Islamic State group to bolster his chances in Parliament.

Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn has warned about the risks of military intervention but said he will listen to the government's proposal.

Brussels residents are waking up to largely empty streets as the city enters its second day under the highest threat level and the manhunt continues for a suspect missing since the Nov. 13 attacks in France.

Belgium's national Crisis Centre on Saturday raised the threat alert in the Brussels region to Level 4, which indicates a "serious and immediate threat."

Subways and underground trams remain closed Sunday and officials recommended that sports competitions and all activities in public buildings should be cancelled and malls and commercial centres closed.

Belgian officials say the measures were recommended due to the extra security they would require. The country's Regional Security Council is set to meet Sunday afternoon to update any new measures needed.