UNSC Blasts Heinous Murder of British Aid Worker, UK Closer to Military Action against ISIL

Local Editor

The UN Security Council on Sunday condemned the "heinous and cowardly murder" of British aid worker David Haines by an ISIL militant.

"This crime is a tragic reminder of the increasing dangers humanitarian personnel face every day in Syria," the council emphasized in a statement, adopted unanimously by its 15 members.

The statement called for aid workers to be respected in conflict zones and "stressed again that ISIL must be defeated and that the intolerance, violence and hatred it espouses must be stamped out."

Using an alternate acronym for the group, the council members emphasized that "such continued acts of barbarism perpetrated by ISIL do not intimidate them but rather stiffen their resolve that there has to be a common effort" against it and other extremist groups.

The council also called for the "immediate, safe and unconditional release of all those who are kept hostage" by ISIL and other groups associated with al-Qaeda.
It urged all states "to cooperate actively" with Britain's efforts to bring the perpetrators of Haines' execution to justice.

Haines was kidnapped in Syria in March 2013.

UK to Act....

Meanwhile, the prospect of Britain joining military action against the ISIL group moved closer as David Cameron led international condemnation of the killing of Haines and threats against a second UK citizen, Alan Henning.

As western diplomats reported that several Arab states had offered to join a US-led coalition carrying out air strikes against the insurgents, the prime minister said the UK was "ready to take whatever steps are necessary" to deal with the threat of ISIL.
John Kerry, the US secretary of state, said on Sunday he was "extremely encouraged" by pledges to build a broad alliance against ISIL.

In a statement in front of two union jack flags Cameron said: "Step by step, we must drive back, dismantle and ultimately destroy ISIL and what it stands for ... We will not do so on our own, but by working closely with our allies, not just the United States and in Europe, but also in the region because this organization poses a massive threat to the entire Middle East."

In his statement Cameron made no mention of recalling parliament to debate the idea of strikes, which he has promised to do before ordering military action unless confronted by an emergency. MPs have broken up for party conferences until 14 October. It is also understood the prime minister will be carrying on with a speech in Scotland today, making a last-ditch plea to save the union.

He is under pressure to act immediately from hawks within the Conservative party, including the former defense secretary Liam Fox, who are pushing for the UK to join air strikes. Meanwhile, military chiefs, including Lord Dannatt, a former chief of the UK army, warned that the strength of Isis could grow if the government does not "confront and destroy" its influence.

However, many MPs are still reluctant to see Britain get caught up in another Iraq war and Conservative whips fear Cameron could lose a vote on ISIL.

The US president, Barack Obama condemned the "barbaric murder" of Haines.

"Our hearts go out to the family of Mr Haines and to the people of the United Kingdom," he said. "The United States stands shoulder to shoulder tonight with our close friend and ally in grief and resolve. We will work with the UK and a broad coalition of nations from the region and around the world to bring the perpetrators of this outrageous act to justice, and to degrade and destroy this threat to the people of our countries, the region and the world."

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team