Hollande in diplomatic overdrive to forge coalition against IS armed group

This week sees French President Francois Hollande going on a diplomatic overdrive to forge a broad international coalition against the Islamic State armed group which claimed responsibility for the November 13 terror attacks in Paris.

French President Francois Hollande will meet world leaders this week to establish a broad coalition against the Islamic State armed group. REUTERS/Michel Euler/Pool

After meeting British Prime Minister David Cameron in Paris on Monday, Hollande said that France will intensify strikes and choose targets that will do the most damage possible to the Islamic State armed group.

Hollande will fly to Washington on Tuesday to meet his American counterpart Barack Obama.

Sources say that France would be seeking a greater involvement of the US and demand further intensification of its strikes against the Islamic State armed group.

A day later, the French President will be hosting German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Paris.

On Thursday, he will fly to Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has pledged to work more closely with the West against the Islamic State armed group following the Paris attacks and the downing of a Russian passenger jet over Egypt last month.

Hollande will conclude his week long diplomatic marathon by hosting a dinner with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Paris on Sunday.

Last week, France had drafted a measure calling on all the United Nations member states to “redouble and coordinate their efforts to prevent and suppress terrorist attacks” committed by the Islamic State armed group and other extremist groups linked to Al-Qaeda.

The Security Council on Friday authorised countries to "take all necessary measures" to fight the Islamic State armed group in a resolution that won unanimous backing.