This Article is From Nov 16, 2014

French PM Condemns 'Barbaric' Execution of Peter Kassig, Syrians

French PM Condemns 'Barbaric' Execution of Peter Kassig, Syrians

File photo of French Prime Minister Manuel Valls. (Agence France-Presse)

Paris: French Prime Minister Manuel Valls on Sunday condemned the execution of US aid worker Peter Kassig and Syrian soldiers as a "barbaric act" which only boosted France's determination to take on Islamic State jihadists.

Valls said in a statement he "condemns this new barbaric act. This deed reinforces France's determination to act against Daesh in Iraq and Syria," using another name for the IS group.

France is involved in air strikes in Iraq against the jihadists, but has so far refused to join the United States in its air war against IS in Syria.

The extremist group, which has beheaded several Westerners, on Sunday claimed to have executed Kassig as well as 18 Syrian soldiers in a video which is being examined by intelligence officials.
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