US stresses on Egypt's role in combating terrorism

A US presidential envoy for the international alliance against the Islamic State (IS) has emphasised Egypt's strategic role in fighting terrorism and extremist groups in the region, according to the Egyptian foreign ministry.

Visiting US envoy John Allen said "Egypt is keen on fighting all terrorist groups in the region, including those in Libya, and is willing to use all means to combat them and to spread the tolerant principles of Islam", foreign ministry spokesman Badr Abdel Atti told the press in a statement.

Allen is in Egypt to meet with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri amid reports of escalating IS attacks on the northern Kurdish region of Syria, Xinhua reported. The predominantly Sunni IS group has violently seized a considerable stretch of territory in Iraq and Syria and targeted ethnic and religious minorities, forcing thousands to flee their homes.

Both officials discussed ways to cooperate in fighting the IS along with other armed Islamist groups through mutual international and regional efforts, Atti added. They also discussed recent developments in Iraq and the importance of the widespread participation of all Iraqis in a comprehensive political process, regardless of their regional or sectarian affiliations.

Shoukri underscored Egypt's readiness to provide the necessary support to build the Iraqi government and raise its efficiency.

The US official stressed the need of all international and regional efforts to prevent foreign fighters from joining the IS and to back the Iraqi central government so it can assume it duties.

The IS extremist group, which shocked the world through by its highly publicised beheadings of detainees, including American journalists, has declared an Islamic "caliphate" in the captured parts of Iraq and Syria and has committed widespread atrocities.

Washington launched an air bombardment campaign against the IS in Iraq, without ground force invasion, in August and last month expanded it to Syria with the participation of some Arab allies. US President Barack Obama said the fight against the IS would "not be easy or short".

Egypt, hit by an extremist insurgency in the restive Sinai, has been facing security challenges on its borders following the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi by the army in July last year.

In the past few months, the Arab world's most populous country has showed its support for the US-led coalition against the IS, and called for a wider regional anti-terrorism campaign to eradicate armed Islamist groups from the region.