'Action against Islamic State should include Syria'

The Syrian government in Damascus has condemned the killing of the British hostage David Haines by Islamic State.

However, it blamed Britain and the United States for the rise of IS, saying they should have supported the Assad regime's fight against jihadist armed groups, instead of pushing for regime change in Damascus.

Syria's Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad told BBC Middle East Editor Jeremy Bowen what he thought of President Obama's plan to form a coalition, not including Syria, to fight IS - which would if necessary carry out air strikes on Syrian territory.