Barack Obama, David Cameron vow to work against violent extremism

Washington, Jan 17: US President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron on Friday vowed to work jointly against violent extremism following deadly attacks in France and asked local communities, families and faith leaders to join them in their efforts.

"We're not going to relent until this (ISIL) terrorist organization is destroyed," Obama told reporters at a White House joint news conference with Cameron after the two leaders held talks in the Oval Office.

"The Paris attacks also underscored again how terrorist groups like Al Qaida and ISIL are actively trying to inspire and support people within our own countries to engage in terrorism... David (Cameron) and the United Kingdom continue to be strong partners in this work, including sharing intelligence and strengthening border security," he said.

Cameron's visit to Washington came one week after 17 people were killed in attacks in France. "At the same time, we both recognise that intelligence and military force alone is not going to solve this problem, so we're also going to keep working together on strategies to counter violent extremism that radicalizes recruits and mobilizes people, especially young people, to engage in terrorism. Local communities, families, neighbors, faith leaders have a vital role to play in that effort," Obama said.

Cameron: We continue to face difficult times for the world

"We continue to face difficult times for the world. First and foremost, we have to deal with the warning lights flashing in the global economy," Cameron told reporters. Obama said the world has been sickened by the recent attacks in Paris, in Peshawar, in Nigeria.

"We know what we're up against.We know how we will win. We face a poisonous and fanatical ideology that wants to pervert one of the world's major religions, Islam, and create conflict, terror and death. With our allies, we will confront it wherever it appears," he said.

PTI