James Foley beheading: Obama condemns 'barbaric' act, saying Islamic State has 'shocked the world'

By North America correspondent Michael Vincent, wires

21 Aug 2014,

US president Barack Obama has responded to the beheading of American journalist James Foley by Islamic State (IS) militants, saying it "shocked the conscience of the entire world".

As the Pentagon said American warplanes continued to strike IS targets in Iraq, Mr Obama vowed the US would do what it must to protect its citizens.

Islamic State posted a video yesterday that showed the beheading of Foley in revenge for US air strikes in Iraq. It prompted widespread revulsion that could push Western powers into further action against the group.

The video, titled A Message To America, also showed images of another US journalist, Steven Sotloff, whose fate Islamic State said depended on how the United States acts in Iraq.

Mr Obama said he had spoken with Foley's family and told them that "we are all heartbroken at their loss".

He said he would join them in honouring the reporter and that his life "stands in stark contrast to his killers".

"ISIL speaks for no religion, their victims are overwhelmingly Muslim and no religion teaches people to massacre innocents – no just God would stand for what they did yesterday or what they do every single day," the president said.

"The United States of America will continue to do what we must do to protect our people. We will be vigilant and we will be relentless.

"When people harm Americans, anywhere, we do what's necessary to see that justice is done.

"There has to be a common effort to extract this cancer so it does not spread. It has to be a clear rejection of these kind of nihilistic ideologies."

KILLER MILITANT 'APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN BRITISH'

British anti-terrorist police have opened an investigation of the video, in which Foley's killer spoke with a London accent.

Apparently a British national, the killer is just one of hundreds of European Muslims drawn to join Islamic State in Iraq and Syria and who authorities say pose a security threat if they return home from the Middle East.

The video showed a high level of technical proficiency and the use of a British voice may have been intended to make its contents clear to audiences in the United States, Islamic State's declared enemy.

British prime minister David Cameron interrupted his holiday to return to London to lead the hunt to identify the killer.

France said it wanted the permanent members of the UN Security Council and regional countries, including Arab states and Iran, to coordinate action against Islamic State.

UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon also condemned "the horrific murder of journalist James Foley, an abominable crime that underscores the campaign of terror the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant continues to wage against the people of Iraq and Syria".

Prime Minister Tony Abbott yesterday described the beheading "as near to pure evil as we are ever likely to see" and said it was "a sign that there can be no compromise whatsover with the murderous terrorists" of the Islamic State.

The video's message was unambiguous, warning of greater retaliation to come against Americans following nearly two weeks of US air strikes that have pounded militant positions and halted the advance of Islamic State, which until this month had captured a third of Iraq with little resistance.

PARENTS BEG FOR MERCY FOR REMAINING CAPTIVES

Foley, 40, was kidnapped on November 22, 2012, in northern Syria, according to GlobalPost. He had earlier been kidnapped and released in Libya.

Sotloff, who appeared at the end of the video, went missing in northern Syria while reporting in July 2013. He has written for Time among other news organisations.

Foley's parents, John and Dianne, have begged for mercy for those who remain captive.

"We beg compassion and mercy for Steven Sotloff and for the other captors – we just beg mercy. They they never hurt anybody, they're trying to help and there's no reason for their slaughter," Mr Foley said.

"But Jimmy's free, he's finally free, and he's in God's hands and we know he's in heaven.

"How do you make sense out of someone as good as Jim meeting such a fate?

"I mean, that's ... it's just evil and immoral. There's so much evil in the world, we need to pray. None of it makes any sense."

Mrs Foley added: "Jim was just innocent. They knew that Jim was just a symbol for our country and it's that hatred that Jim was against."

She said the family had also received word from other captives who have been freed about how their son helped them.

"In the midst of his suffering he was helping the other prisoners," Mrs Foley said. "There were a couple of much younger people in that cell – Jim was one of the much older ones - and he would hold one of them, we were told, who was struggling."

"When Jim could do that, we somehow needed that strength. "

Foley's brother Michael led the efforts to secure his release when he was being held captive in Libya in 2011.

When asked by reporters, he said he did not believe the US government did enough to save his sibling after his kidnapping in Syria.

"I hope they do more for Steven (Sotloff). That's my opinion. There's more that can be done – the footprint's been laid by some of the other nations."

There are reports other countries have paid ransoms for their nationals to be released, which the US does not do as a matter of policy.

ISLAMIC STATE MAY HAVE CAPTURED UP TO 20 MORE JOURNALISTS

Syria has been the most dangerous country for journalists for more than two years. At least 69 other journalists have been killed covering the conflict there and more than 80 journalists have been kidnapped in Syria.

The US-based Committee to Protect Journalists estimates that approximately 20 journalists are currently missing in Syria. Many of them are believed to be held by Islamic State.

The State Department says it is "not giving a number" but is aware of other Americans who are captive.

Spokeswoman Marie Harf said "for their security" she was not prepared to provide any details.

Islamic State also released a video on Tuesday that gave a strong indication it might try to strike American targets. The video with the theme "breaking of the American cross" boasts Islamic State will emerge victorious over "crusader" America.

It followed a video on Monday warning of attacks on American targets if Washington strikes its fighters in Iraq and Syria.

As well as taking territory, Islamic State has seized a number of oil wells in northern Iraq. The government in Baghdad said it was troubled by reports that Islamic State was smuggling oil to export markets and warned that the purchase of such supplies could help the group fund its operations.

Twitter says it has removed from its service photos and video of Foley's beheading.

"We have been and are actively suspending accounts as we discover them related to this graphic imagery. Thank you," Twitter chief executive Dick Costolo posted.

YouTube also removed the video from its site in accordance with its policy against "violent or gory content that's primarily intended to be shocking, sensational or disrespectful."

Foley's sister asked people not to share the video, leading to the twitter hashtag #ISISmediablackout trending on social media.

ABC