Wednesday, 4 February 2015

Jordan's King Abdullah vows 'severe response' to IS

King Abdullah greets crowds after his return home from the US - 4 FebruaryKing Abdullah was greeted by supporters as he returned to Jordan after a trip to the US
Jordan's King Abdullah II has promised to fight back hard against Islamic State, saying that the death of a Jordanian pilot at the militants' hands will not be in vain.
The remarks were made as the king held a crisis meeting with security chiefs.
He cut short a US trip after IS posted a video showing pilot Moaz al-Kasasbeh being burned alive.
Jordan executed two convicts, including failed female suicide bomber Sajida al-Rishawi, in response.
Lt Kasasbeh was seized after crashing during a bombing mission by the US-led coalition over Syria in December.
Jordan had sought to secure Lt Kasasbeh's release in a swap involving Rishawi, but IS is believed to have killed him a month ago.
The BBC's Paul Adams in Amman says talk of an exchange appears to have been an IS tactic to string Jordan along and foster doubt among Jordanians over its role in the US-led coalition.
After a meeting with security chiefs, AFP news agency quoted him as saying in a statement: "The blood of martyr Moaz al-Kasasbeh will not be in vain and the response of Jordan and its army after what happened to our dear son will be severe."
Meanwhile government spokesman Mohamed al-Momani said a collaborative effort was needed between members of the US-led coalition to "undermine, degrade and eventually finish [Islamic State]".
"This evil can and should be defeated," he said, adding that Jordan was "more determined than ever" to fight the militant group.

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