Paris attacks: David Cameron to meet Francois Hollande

He will meet French President Francoise Hollande on Monday to discuss the fight against terrorism in Syria and Iraq, his spokesman said on Saturday.

“If it [UK] wants to push its ideas through the Security Council it should… give an order to its ambassador at the United Nations to start consultations, including with Russian Federation”, ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

On the same day it was confirmed the death toll from the attacks had risen to 130 the council unanimously adopted a resolution drafted by France meaning a redoubling of efforts to prevent further attacks by the group who the United Nations agreed represent “a global and unprecedented threat to worldwide peace and security”.

The resolution – co-sponsored by the United Kingdom which at present holds the rotating presidency of the security council – condemns a number of terror attacks – including the murder of 30 Britons in a Tunisian beach resort in June.

He is seeking to build cross-party support in the United Kingdom for British air strikes against IS – also known as Isil, Isis or Daesh – in Syria, though there is no timetable for a Parliamentary vote.

Mr Cameron was also boosted by the assertion of the chairman of an influential Commons committee that raised serious doubts about the case for Britain joining air strikes that its concerns had “in large part” been answered.

“We can not expect – we should not expect – others to carry the burdens and risks of protecting our country”, he said.

What is the so-called Islamic State?

IS is a notoriously violent Islamist group which controls large parts of Syria and Iraq. It has declared its territory a caliphate – a state governed in accordance with Islamic law – under its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. It has about 30,000 fighters but is facing daily bombing by a US-led multi-national coalition, which has vowed to destroy it.

“The global community has come together and has resolved to defeat this evil, which threatens people of every country and every religion”, he added.

“Isil’s murderous violence requires a strong security response”.