LIVE! Turkey coup attempt: Erdogan demands US arrest exiled cleric Gulen

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Sat, 16 July 2016

Turkey coup attempt: Erdogan demands US arrest exiled cleric Gulen

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23:45 Turkey coup attempt: Erdogan demands US arrest exiled cleric Gulen

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan whilst speaking from Istanbul, called on Barack Obama to arrest cleric Fethullah Gulen or deport him to Turkey to face charges related to the coup.

He says that if the US and Turkey are truly strategic allies, then the American president will help Erdoğan with regard to the exiled imam, who lives in central Pennsylvania.

Erdogan then says that the attempted coup was perpetrated by a minority within the army, but not the military in general.

More than 2,800 service members have been arrested so far and there are reports of more arrests around Turkey. Erdoğans government has also removed more than 2,700 judges and prosecutors from duty.

In his first pro bout that lasted all ten rounds, Vijender Singh beat Kerry Hopes 98-92-98-92 and 100-92 in a close contest to win the WBO Asia Pacific super middleweight title fight in New Delhi on Saturday.

Vijender's winning streak has now stretched to 7-0 in the pro boxing circuit.

Turkey today detained a member of the country's top court after a bloody coup attempt aiming to oust the government, local media reported.

Alparslan Altan, one of 17 judges on the constitutional court, was taken into custody, the private NTV television reported, without specifying what he was accused of.

Earlier, the judicial authorities said that some 2,745 judges across the country would be dismissed in the wake of the coup.

This also came in addition to the arrests of several senior military figures including 2nd army generals Adem Huduti and Avni Angun, Turkish media said.

The government said that in all almost 3,000 soldiers had been arrested in a major purge of the armed forces.

SUA

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21:50 Trump, Pence step into the spotlight together

Donald Trump formally unveiled Mike Pence as his running mate Saturday, capping a chaotic rollout that sources say included a dramatic night of soul-searching on whether he had settled on the right man.

The presumptive Republican nominee introduced the Indiana governor in Manhattan -- 24 hours later than planned, since Trump postponed the original event in the wake of the terror attack in Nice, France.

"I'm here today to introduce my partner in this campaign and the White House to fix our rigged system -- we are in a rigged, rigged system -- and to make America safe again, and to make America great again," Trump said.

The US military command in Europe has ordered American forces across Turkey to take maximum protective measures following the attempted military coup there, a US military source said today.

The US military has around 2,200 service members and civilian employees in Turkey, which is a NATO member and a crucial regional partner for Washington.

About 1,500 of them are stationed at Incirlik, the military base in southern Turkey from which American warplanes have launched bombing missions against the Islamic State group.

US forces in Turkey were now at the "Delta" force protection level, such as is invoked when a terrorist attack is taking place or appears imminent, the American defense official said.

Vijender Singh takes on Australian Kerry Hope in the WBO Asia Pacific super middleweight title fight in New Delhi on Saturday.

In his first bout in India since turning pro, Vijender, who has scored six wins in his first six pro bouts, which all lasted four rounds, faces a stiff test in Hope, who has a 23-7 record and is a former European champion.

Hope will look to draw on his experience of having fought 10 rounds and stretch Vijender, who will feature in a 10-round contest for the first time in his career.

"I am ready to fight for 10 rounds, but if I get the opportunity to knock him out early I will go for it," vijender said on the eve of the bout.

Only time will tell what fate holds for India's champion boxer.

Air raids on rebel-held districts of Syria's battleground second city of Aleppo killed at least 25 civilians including children today, a monitor said.

The death toll steadily rose throughout the day as bombardment rocked the city, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

"Eleven civilians, including four children, were killed by air raids after midnight in the Bab al-Nasr area of Old Aleppo, and seven others were killed in Fardous neighbourhood," the monitor said.

Seven others, including children, were killed in several other rebel-controlled neighbourhoods -- among them three in the Salhin district, the Britain-based monitor said.

Secretary of State John Kerry said today that the United States will assist Turkey in the investigation of a failed coup and invited Ankara to share any evidence it has against a US-based opposition figure Fethullah Gulen.

Speaking in Luxembourg, Kerry said Washington had not yet received a formal extradition bid for the expatriate cleric, but added: "We fully anticipate that there will be questions raised about Mr Gulen."

Gulen, a reclusive Islamic preacher with a worldwide following who is regularly accused of a behind the scenes role in Turkish politics, lives in a tiny town in the Pocono Mountains of the US state of Pennsylvania.

He has been accused by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of being behind the Thursday's boody coup attempt, although he has denied any role and condemned the military uprising "in the strongest terms."

The army today gunned down three heavily-armed terrorists and foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch

district.

The group of terrorists was attempting to infiltrate into the Indian territory from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, a Defence Spokesman said here.

The troops spotted and traced their movement in Saujian area of Poonch and kept tightening the cordon around them, leaving no escape route, he added.

A massive search operation was on for 36 hours which led to exchange of fire resulting in all the three terrorists being killed, he said.

The spokesman described it as a "flawless surgical operation" executed by the army ensuring neutralisation of all the terrorists and no casualty on their side.

All 148 Indian children and 38 officials who are in Turkey for World Schools Sports Meet are safe, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said today.

Turkey is witnessing violence after an attempted military coup in which at least 250 people have died.

"There are 148 Indian children and 38 officials in Trapzon #Turkey. They are all safe.

"The games are on. They will start returning in batches from 18th July," Swaraj tweeted.

India has been closely following the developments in Turkey and has advised its nationals to stay indoors until the situation becomes clearer.

"India calls upon all sides 2 support democracy & mandate of the ballot, & avoid bloodshed," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.

The Indian Embassy has also set up emergency helplines to assist Indian nationals in Ankara (+905303142203) and Istanbul (+905305671095).

British Prime Minister Theresa May has made more changes to the government, removing another key supporter of predecessor David Cameron from ministerial ranks.

Downing Street says arts minister Ed Vaizey, a friend of Cameron, has left the government. Ros Altmann, Cameron's minister for pensions, has also been dismissed.

The government shuffle is in its fourth day today as May fills out junior ministerial ranks.

May has made dramatic changes, placing leading proponents of a British exit from the European Union in charge of foreign affairs, international trade and EU negotiations.

All the same, May has signaled she's in no rush to start exit talks. She said yesterday she would not launch formal negotiations until there is a "UK approach" involving Scotland, which strongly backed remaining in the bloc.

One person was today killed in clashes between security personnel and protesters who attacked a police post in Kupwara as protests were held in some parts of the curfew-bound Valley where 39 persons have died and over 3,100 left injured in the violence since last week.

A mob attacked a police post at Hatmulla in north Kashmir's Kupwara district this afternoon following which the security personnel retaliated. One person was killed and two injured in the incident, a police official said.

With this the death toll in the violence that followed the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani has mounted to 39 while 3,140 persons including 1,500 security personnel have been injured.

British nationals in Turkey are being "strongly" advised to stay indoors after 161 people died in a failed military coup in the country, the UK Foreign Office said today.

UK foreign secretary Boris Johnson tweeted that he was "very concerned" by the events in Turkey and said the British Embassy was "monitoring the situation closely".

More than 2.5 million Britons visit Turkey every year.

"The situation now appears quieter in Istanbul, and the bridges across the Bosphorus are re-opening. But there are reports of tank fire and small arms fire in Ankara. Some flights to airports in Turkey are being diverted or cancelled," the latest advice from the Foreign Office reads.

17:24 Pakistan condemns coup attempt in Turkey

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today condemned a botched coup bid by Turkish army and expressed Pakistan's 'abiding interest' in a democratic, peaceful and stable Turkey.

"I strongly condemn the attempt to undermine democracy by a failed coup in the brotherly country of Turkey. We deeply admire the resolve of the brave and resilient Turkish people, who stood up against the forces of darkness and anarchy to express their support and commitment to democracy," he said in a statement.

Sharif expressed complete support and solidarity with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the democratically-elected government of Turkey, and the democratic institutions of the country.

Greece's defense ministry says a Black Hawk military helicopter carrying seven Turkish military personnel and one civilian has landed at the airport in the city of Alexandroupolis in northeastern Greece.

The passengers have asked for asylum. They were arrested for illegal entry into Greece.

The ministry says the helicopter gave a distress signal at 10:45 am local time and landed six minutes later.

Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency quotes Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu as saying that "we have demanded the immediate return of the eight treacherous officers who fled to Greece by helicopter."

Over 200 players, who are representing India in School World Sports Championship in Turkey, are stranded in the coup-hit country.

As tensions set in, the Turkish government has asked everybody to stay indoors.

A group five girls, who are among the people stranded in the coup, made a video from what looks like a room with a window.

In a video shown by Puthiya Thalaimurai channel, a sportswoman stranded in Turkey says in Tamil: "The event was scheduled from July 11 -18. We left for Turkey from New Delhi on 11th. This morning we heard that there was bomb blast in Ankara. But there are no problems in Trabzon so far. There is no concrete information as to whether the sports event would resume. We are supposed to leave Trabzon on July 18. We'll be going to Istanbul via Ankara. Our flight to Delhi is from Istanbul. I request the central government to help us reach safely."

BJP leader Subramanian Swamy today told a Delhi court that he would file a fresh application for summoning of documents in the National Herald case in which Congress President Sonia Gandhi, her son Rahul Gandhi and others are accused.

He told Metropolitan Magistrate Lovleen that the Delhi High Court has set aside the trial court's orders summoning documents from Ministries of Finance and Urban Development, Department of Corporate Affairs and Income Tax Department and balance sheet of Congress party for 2010-2011 but he has been permitted to file a fresh application.

"There is no way I can be restricted from getting these copies (of document) again. I will file a complete application for summoning of documents. The order (of high court) does not say that these documents should be returned. The high court says I can move fresh application. I will move application for summoning of documents as permitted by high court," he said.

Unhappy militants are usually unhappy in the same way. What connects, for example, the Northern Irish and the Basque Spanish, of the past, with today's Kashmiris and Palestinians is that they would rather crawl on broken glass than give up their activism.

This happens when resistance becomes an integral aspect of culture and an identity badge, as it, unfortunately, has in Kashmir. It is no longer a political weapon but, as "culture", it throbs like a heart.

The way out is to drop the assumption of Kashmir's "exceptionalism" and learn from the Irish, the Basques and the Quebecois.

Read more HERE

Army on Saturday foiled an infiltration bid and killed three terrorists along the Line of Control in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.

A group of terrorists infiltrated into this side of the LoC.

Troops engaged them in Sajiyan area of Poonch district, Defence Spokesman Col S D Goswami said.

In the gun-battle, three militants were killed, he said, adding the operation was still going on when the last reports came in from the area.

14:37 ISIS claims Nice massacre

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the truck attack that killed 84 people in Nice on France's national holiday, a news service affiliated with the jihadists said today.

Amaq quoted an IS security source as saying one of its "soldiers" carried out Thursday's carnage "in response to calls to target nations of coalition states that are fighting (IS)".

A metropolitan magistrate's court in suburban Andheri on Saturday issued a Non-Bailable Warrant against liquor baron Vijay Mallya in a cheque bounce case.

The court had in May reserved its order on applications filed by the Airport Authority of India (AAI) seeking an arrest warrant against the industrialist.

AAI has filed two cheque bouncing cases against Mallya's Kingfisher Airlines in the court. The two cheques worth Rs. 50 crores and Rs. 57 crores respectively were dishonored in year 2012.

In last hearing, the court had asked Mallya to remain present during the hearing of the said case but he was absent today as well.

The lawyer, who appeared for Mallya, told the court the Mallyas passport is revoked and hence he cannot come and the matter should be heard without him.

13:09

Four people taken into custody after Nice Attack in France: Agence France-Presse

12:43 Pak model Qandeel Baloch murdered by her brother; honour killing suspected

Pakistani model Qandeel Baloch was murdered by her brother in Multan on Saturday.

According to the Express Tribune, the actor-cum-model was shot dead by her younger brother. However, conflicting reports claimed she was strangled to death.

"Baloch was killed by her brother over honour in Muzaffarabad's Green Town area," the area's RPO told The Express Tribune.

Baloch had fled to Multan but not disclosed her location due to security threats, the official added. "Qandeel's brothers had asked her to quit modelling," family sources said.

Fauzia Azeem alias Qandeel Baloch had recently taken the internet by storm as she shared a couple of selfies and a video of herself with Mufti Qawi, a former member of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee. The self-proclaimed model had also ridiculed the cleric on various TV channels after the release of controversial content.

Baloch, who set in motion events that led to the suspension of Mufti Qawi's membership from the Ruet-e-Hilal committee, was once married and has a young son.

Kashmirs first topper in the Indian civil services examination on Friday accused a section of the electronic media of "pitching one Kashmiri against another and breeding more alienation" in the state rocked by violence over the killing of militant leader Burhan Wani.

He also threatened to quit his government post as the director in the education department if media did not stop drawing the comparison.

Shah Faesal, whose success in the 2009 civil services exams has turned him into a role-model for Kashmiri, vented his anger in a Facebook post after a section of media juxtaposed his images with the slain militant commander to highlight what they said were two sides of the Valley.

"By juxtaposing my photos with the images of a slain militant commander, a section of national media has once again fallen back upon its conventional savagery that cashes on falsehoods, divides people and creates more hatred, the 33-year-old IAS officer wrote.

Read more HERE

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday chaired the 11th meeting of Inter-State Council in national capital New Delhi.

The meeting assumes significance in wake of the BJP-led NDA regime's efforts to ensure the passage of the Good and Services Tax Bill in the Monsoon Session of Parliament beginning Monday.

In his remarks, the Prime Minister said:

* Our country's internal security and the challenges faced need to be addressed today. Internal security cannot be strengthened unless intelligence sharing is the focus.

* Quite happy that the states have got 21% more funds than what they got last year

* Dr Ambedkar had said that improving society is as difficult as finding heaven. In the path to social welfare, there are fewer friends and more critics.

* The nation can only progress if the state governments and the Centre work shoulder to shoulder.

* We dont get a lot of opportunities where heads of the country and the states all come together. Atal Bihari Vajpayee said 'for a big nation like India, debate, deliberation and discussion affect policies'.

11:34

Turkey's state-run news agency says Turkish military chief is rescued in operation at air base: AP

11:31 New twist in Arunachal: Khandu replaces Tuki as CM ahead of floor test

Ahead of Saturday's floor test, the Arunachal Pradesh state assembly, the Congress Legislature Party, has decided to change the leadership from Nabam Tuki to Pema Khandu.

Should the Congress win the floor test, Khandu is most likely to become the next chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh.

"You all know that the CLP is in agreement and Pema Khandu will be sworn in as the chief minister," Congress MLA Kameng Dolo said.

A meeting is currently underway following acting Governor Tathagatha Roy's directive to hold the floor test today. Rebel Congress MLAs are also present at the meeting.

Rejecting Tuki's request to provide some more time to hold the floor test to prove his majority, Governor Tathagata Roy said the floor test would go ahead as secheduled.

Tuki, addressing a letter to the Governor had sought at least ten days time from for the floor test, but Governor Roy declined his request stating that in the view of upcoming monsoon, which might lead to rainfall and landslides, the deferment of floor test will be difficult.

"I thank you and your Home Minister for your kind visit to the Raj Bhawan on 15.7.2016 at 1 p.m. I congratulate you on your resumption as Chief Minister in obedience of the Hon'ble Supreme Court's orders. I have given my most careful consideration to your request for not summoning the state legislative assembly for the purpose of proving your majority on the floor of the House," the letter said.

"I regret I am not in a position to agree with your submission made in your above letters and during our meeting. You appear to have contended that the notice given to you for summoning the Assembly is too short, for certain reason," it added.

Meanwhile, back home, curfew remained in force across Kashmir and normal life paralysed for the eighth day in the wake of clashes following killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani that has left 38 persons dead and over 3100 injured.

"Curfew continues to remain in force in all 10 districts of Kashmir valley today as precautionary measure for maintaining law and order," a police official said.

He said the decision to continue the curfew was taken in view of large number of stone-pelting incidents across the valley on Friday.

Police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed in strength across the Valley for strict implementation of the prohibitory orders, the official said.

Mobile telephone services in the Valley also remained suspended to prevent any rumour-mongering.

"Only postpaid connections of BSNL are working," the official said.

Mobile Internet services continued to remain suspended for the seventh day today while trains are also off the tracks in the Valley as a precautionary measure.

The separatists groups -- both factions of Hurriyat Conference and JKLF -- on Friday extended the strike call till Monday evening.

Turkish President Erdogan just addressed a sizeable crowd in Istanbul.

Erdogan said the coup is over and the "the government is in control", but reports of explosions and gunfire are still coming in from Istanbul.

Assuring his supporters that the government will succeed, he said that the coup plotters brought out tanks, but "my people" took them back.

From the highest level of the army to lowest-ranking officers, he says, the armed forces must know they cannot govern the state. The government is elected and is in control. The people elected a president and that president is here, he said.

The crowd, numbering in the thousands, chanted and sand -- one nation, one flag, one motherland -- and shouted Erdogan's name as he left the platform.

India has advised its nationals in Turkey to stay indoors.

"We have been closely following the developments in #Turkey India calls upon all sides 2 support democracy & mandate of the ballot, & avoid bloodshed," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.

India also asked its nationals in the country to avoid public places and remain indoors until the situation becomes clearer in the backdrop of the attempted military coup.

"Indian nationals in Turkey : Pl avoid public places and stay indoors. Helpline : Ankara: +905303142203 Istanbul: +905305671095," External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted.

09:56

Turkish F-16s launch air strikes against tanks outside palace: presidential source, reports news agency AFP

09:51 Turkey coup: Soldiers appear to be surrendering

Footage from Istanbul has emerged showing between 60-100 soldiers apparently surrendering on the Bosphorus Bridge.

It is believed that they were turning themselves to the police, apparently confirming President Erdogan's assertion that the coup has failed.

The president himself, speaking to flag waving supporters at Istanbuls main airport, urged those who backed him to remain on the streets until the political situation returned to normal.

09:44 The man Turkey believes orchestrated the coup

Even as chaos rocked Turkey on Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan repeatedly called Fethullah Gulen, a high-profile cleric living in exile in Pennsylvania, US, as the orchestrator of the coup.

"Now I am addressing those in Pennsylvania. The betrayal you have shown to this nation and to this community, that is enough. If you have the courage, come back to your country. If you can. You will not have the means to turn this country into a mess from where you are," Erdogan said while addressing his supporters in Istanbul.

Read more HERE

The United States has thrown its weight behind the democratically-elected government in Turkey amidst reports of a military coup in the country which is a key NATO-ally of America.

US President Barack Obama spoke over phone with his Secretary of State John Kerry to discuss the unfolding events in Turkey. "The president and secretary agreed that all parties in Turkey should support the democratically-elected Government of Turkey, show restraint, and avoid any violence or bloodshed," the White House said in a statement yesterday.

In a statement, Kerry said the US viewed with "gravest concern" events taking place in Turkey. "We are monitoring a very fluid situation," he said. "I spoke this evening to Foreign Minister Cavusoglu and emphasised the United States' absolute support for Turkey's democratically-elected, civilian government and democratic institutions," Kerry said.

He urged all parties to ensure the safety and well-being of diplomatic missions and personnel and civilians throughout Turkey.

Local media in Turkey has reported that many people have been killed in Ankara as some army groups staged an attempted coup. The prosecutor's office, it is learnt, was quoted by NTV as stating that 42 people, of who 17 were police and the rest were civilians, have been killed in Ankara so far.

03:36

Gunshots heard around presidential complex; witnesses say military helicopters fired.

Meanwhile, protesters have come on the streets of Istanbul calling for coup to end.

03:04 US at war with al-Qaeda since 9/11: White House

Echoing the views of the two presidential candidates -- Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton -- that the United Sstates is at war with terror groups, the White House on Friday said the country has been at war with al-Qaeda since 9/11 and important progress has been made on that front.

"The (US) President has said on a number of occasions that terrorists and al-Qaeda declared war on the United States on 9/11, and we have been at war with them ever since. And we have made important progress in that war," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters.

Earnest made the remarks while responding to questions from reporters on remarks made by both -- Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and her Republican rival Donald Trump -- after the terrorist attack in France on Thursday that the US is at war against Islamic extremists.

The two candidates meant ISIS and did not mention al- Qaeda in their interviews.

The White House said core al-Qaeda that previously used to operate and live with impunity in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region has been decimated.

There are al-Qaeda affiliates in other parts of the world that are the source of ongoing concern.

"There are also organisations like ISIL that trace their roots back to al-Qaeda, and obviously, that's one extremist organisation that does pose a threat and has attracted the intense attention of the United States and the

international coalition that we lead," Earnest said.

Earnest said Obama has been pretty unequivocal about all of that.

"We've also been quite unequivocal about the fact that we're still waiting on Congress to pass an authorisation to use military force against ISIL. I know there are some critics of the administration who like to talk tough and

suggest that somehow we need to declare war on ISIL. I would encourage those individuals to consult a copy of the United States Constitution that many of them carry around in their suit pocket," he said in an apparent criticism of Trump saying that he would approach the Congress to declare war against such groups.

02:41

Access to Facebook, Twitter and Youtube restricted in Turkey: Internet monitoring groups: Reuters

02:31

Turkey's top general 'held hostage' at military HQ: state agency.

02:14

Turkey army says it has taken power over country: TV

02:06 Military attempts coup in Turkey, Prime Minister says

Prime minister of Turkey, Binali Yildirim said on Friday night that factions of the military had attempted a coup.

"Some people illegally undertook an illegal action outside of the chain of command,' the prime minister said in comments broadcast on NTV, a private television channel.

"The government elected by the people remains in charge. This government will only go when the people say so," he said.

Military forces shut two bridges over the Bosporus strait in Istanbul, and fighter jets were seen flying over Istanbul and Ankara, the capital.

Image: Turkish broadcaster NTV is showing footage of tanks at the entrance to Istanbul's Ataturk Airport

A day after Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor was seen leaning out of a running local train during a promotional event, the Western Railway on Friday slapped a notice on the production house seeking an explanation for his "stunt" and flouting safety norms.

The Railway officials, however, said that they now plan to rope in the "Slumdog Millionaire" star in their campaign against train stunts, which they said, have claimed several lives and continue to be a problem.

Kapoor had boarded a local train on the Western line on Thursday for the promotion of his TV series. A local newspaper had published a photograph of the actor leaning from the foot-board of the running train and waving his hand.

An official of the Public Relations department of WR said they have sent a notice to the production house and has sought an explanation as to why the actor went against safety and security rules.

"In spite of the terms and conditions to adhere strictly to safety and security during shoot, Anil Kapoor seems to be leaning from the foot-board of a local train during a promo shoot on July 14," a senior official of the WR said.

"As observed from videos through social media, an explanation has been sought from production co M/s Market Men Consumer & Events Pvt Ltd in this regard," said the official.

Newly appointed chief of Uttar Pradesh Congress Raj Babbar is set to take over his new assignment on Sunday in Lucknow.

Babbar will take over along with the other appointees, including party's chief ministerial candidate Shiela Dikshit, in the presence of senior Congress leaders in the state capital, party sources said.

This was decided after a meeting of the newly appointed leaders of state unit of Congress with the party's general secretary in charge of UP affairs Ghulam Nabi Azad.

However, they said whether Azad would attend the event is not confirmed yet as he may have to attend the all-party meetings convened by the government and Lok Sabha Speaker in Delhi on Sunday, ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament.

During the meeting with Azad, Congress leaders also discussed the party's strategy for UP polls, slated next year.

The UN tourism chief on Friday urged holiday makers to express solidarity with France by visiting the country to defy "terrorists" after a truck attack in Nice killed at least 84.

The World Tourism Organisation's Secretary-General Taleb Refai made the call after the deadly Bastille Day assault that left dozens dead, including children, and injured scores of others.

"This is the time to go visit France," Refai told reporters in Sri Lanka after attending a tourism conference in the island's former war zone of Passikudah.

He described Thursday's outrage as a "global disease" and said there was no place on earth that was immune from attack.

"This is something that we need to keep vigilant about. It is not the time to shun people. We cannot punish the victims and reward the aggressors by not travelling to places affected, because that is exactly what these terrorists want us to do," he said.

Despite a string of violent incidents against tourists in Turkey, Bangladesh, France, Belgium and Egypt, he said tourism was expected to grow globally by over 4.5 per cent this year.

He said attacks may affect a particular destination in the short term, but it would bounce back in the medium to long term.

Around 50 people remain in a critical condition after a truck rammed into crowds celebrating France's national day in the Riviera city.

01:00 Why does France keep getting attacked?

France is historically seen as standard bearer of western secular liberalism and has been singled out by Islamic State as a key target.

One reason that France is a particular target is down to a specific decision by Islamic State to target it. In September 2014, shortly after the beginning of airstrikes by a US-led coalition which includes France, the chief spokesman for Isis, Mohammad al-Adnani, singled out the "spiteful French' among a list of enemies in a speech calling for the group's sympathisers to launch attacks across the west.

00:54 We will destroy Islamic State: Obama

United States President Barack Obama on Friday said the US will destroy the terrorist organization Islamic State and said the idea of 'testing' Muslims in the US is 'repugnant'.

While hosting diplomatic corps at the White House, Obama said, "We are going to destroy this vile terrorist organization. We cannot let ourselves be divided by religion because that's exactly what the terrorists want."

"Today, our hearts are with the people of France and with all the innocent men, women and children," he said. Obama also said that suggestions to target Muslims after Nice attack is repugnant.

"The hatred and the violence of a few ultimately is no match for the love and decency and hardwork of people of goodwill," he added.

A total of 738 men and boys remain missing after they were detained by militias backing the Iraqi government offensive to retake Fallujah from Islamic State jihadists, a United Nations envoy said.

Jan Kubis told the Security Council that the UN mission in Iraq had received credible reports of torture, killings and disappearances by the militias and Iraqi security forces during the Fallujah offensive.

Iraqi forces seized control of Fallujah, a longtime jihadist bastion, in late June, a month after a vast operation was launched.

UN officials have determined that 95 men remain unaccounted for after they were detained by the Shia militias known as the Popular Mobilization Forces on May 25 in the Al Sejar area of northeast Fallujah, Kubis said.

An additional 643 men and boys remain missing after they were picked up by PMF-affiliated forces on June 5 while leaving Saqlawiyah, north of Fallujah, he added.

Kubis said Iraqi authorities must take swift action to identify the whereabouts of these missing men and boys and ensure those responsible for rights violations face justice.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi last month announced the creation of a committee to investigate the allegations of rights violations and serious crimes in Fallujah.

The envoy stressed that "these lessons from Fallujah" must be taken into account as preparations gather steam to retake Mosul, Iraq's second city which has been under IS control since June 2014.

The United States probed links between the Saudi government and the 9/11 attacks, finding multiple suspicions but no proven ties, documents declassified on Friday showed.

Following a decision by President Barack Obama, the so-called "28 pages" of findings were made public, showing that intelligence agencies were not able to "identify definitively" Saudi links to attacks on US soil including the 2001 plane strikes on New York and Washington.

The United States Congress on Friday released a long-classified report exploring the alleged ties of the Saudi Arabian government to the 9/11 hijackers.

Known as the "28 pages," the secret document was part of a 2002 congressional investigation of the September 11 attacks and has been classified since the report's completion.

"This is great news," said Jerry Goldman, a lawyer who represents families of victims in a class-action suit seeking to sue Saudi Arabia, ahead of the release.

"The families are happy just as the American people should be happy that information that has been kept hidden for well over a decade is finally coming to light."

Former Sen. Bob Graham, who chaired the committee that carried out the investigation and has been pushing the White House to release the pages, said Thursday he was "very pleased" that the documents would be released.

"It is going to increase the questioning of the Saudis' role supporting the hijackers," Graham told CNN.

"I think of this almost as the 28 pages are sort of the cork in the wine bottle. And once it's out, hopefully the rest of the wine itself will start to pour out."

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls says Nice attacker was one way or the other linked to radical Islamist circles.

The attacker, identified as 31-year-old Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhle is from Nice.

At least 84 people were killed when the white 19-tonne truck driven by Bouhle slammed into the crowd on the Promenade des Anglais, Nice's glitzy beachfront, as they gathered to watch a firework display on France's national day.

00:01 Top headlines at this hour

France terror attacker identified as 31-year-old 'loner' who rarely spoke

2 killed, 23 hurt in Kashmir violence
No Indian affected in Nice attack: MEA
Trump picks Indiana Governor Pence as running mate

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