UN council adopts French resolution on fighting Daesh

NEW YORK

The UN Security Council on Friday unanimously adopted a French-drafted resolution aimed at coordinating international efforts to defeat Daesh.

Drafted in the wake of last week's terrorist attacks in Paris, the resolution calls on all able countries to "take all necessary measures" under international law to eradicate safe havens Daesh created in Syria and Iraq.

It urges the countries "that have the capacity to do so" "to take all necessary measures, in compliance with international law, ... on the territory under the control of [Daesh] in Syria and Iraq, to redouble and coordinate their efforts to prevent and suppress terrorist acts committed specifically by [Daesh] as well as [al-Nusra Front], and all other individuals, groups, undertakings, and entities associated with Al Qaeda, and other terrorist groups."

It also asks the countries to intensify their efforts to stem the flow of foreign terrorist fighters to Iraq and Syria to suppress the financing of terrorism.

"This resolution frames our action under international law and the upholding of the United Nations charter, which is our shared good," said France's UN Ambassador Francois Delattre.

The French action rivaled a Russian-drafted resolution that urged countries to coordinate their military actions with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

According to media reports, the Russian draft was dismissed by veto-wielding council members Britain and France as a move to legitimize the Assad, whose forces have been accused of killing tens of thousands of civilians with indiscriminate attacks.

Last week's Paris attacks killed 130 victims and injured hundreds of others.

Daesh claimed responsibility for the massacre.