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France ready to meet IS threats: Minister

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IANS Paris
Last Updated : Sep 22 2014 | 8:06 PM IST

France is not worried about the Islamic State (IS) terror threats and is well prepared to abort any attack by the group at home, French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said Monday.

"France is not afraid because it is prepared to respond to such threats... Their (IS militants) threats will not weaken our determination to end their abuses, to help the persecuted populations and eliminate the risk that represents to our security," the minister stressed.

Earlier Monday, IS called on followers to attack American and French citizens in response to Washington's and Paris's airstrikes which struck the group's targets in Iraq.

Recalling that "(France) always overcame these threats", Cazeneuve pledged full vigilance "even with zero risk", Xinhua reported.

"Current tensions in Iraq have an impact on European territory. France is concerned because of jihadi cells' recruitment of young and radicalized people... It is probably more particularly exposed given its (military) commitment in Iraq," the minister said.

Last week, French head of state Francois Hollande announced air support to quell Islamist militants at the request of Iraqi authorities, pledging further airstrikes to destroy IS targets in Iraq.

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First Published: Sep 22 2014 | 8:00 PM IST

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