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Hollande urges Merkel to do more in fight against ISIL

PARIS, Nov 25 (KUNA) -- French President Francois Hollande on Wednesday called on Germany to do more in the fight against ISIL and help send a strong signal to the terrorist group.
In a press conference, Hollande said that he was aware of "the rules" in Germany, in which the Constitution limits German commitment of forces abroad, but he said more effort from Berlin would be very welcomed at this time.
"I want that Germany can commit even more in the fight against Daesh (ISIL) in Syria and Iraq," Hollande declared.
"If Germany could go even further it would be a very good signal to terrorism," he added.
The two leaders were meeting here for a "working dinner" to principally discuss Syria, but also broader efforts against the extremist Islamist group that carried out a major attack here November 13, killing 130 people and wounding over 350.
Germany said it would send 650 troops to bolster anti-terror operations in Mali, where France has been the key European power leading that fight and supported by African countries in a United Nations force.
Merkel said Germany was looking at ways to support France in the fight against ISIL. Separately, the two leaders travelled to the central "Republic Place" in Paris to lay a flower at a commemorative structure for the victims of the recent terrorist attacks.
The meeting with Merkel is part of a hectic shuttle diplomacy this week by Hollande, in which he is meeting with world leaders to urge greater cooperation against terrorism.
He met Monday with British Premier David Cameron and on Tuesday travelled to Washington for a few hours to meet with US President Barack Obama, while on Thursday he is making a whistle-stop visit to Moscow to meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. He will also meet with Italian and Chinese leaders later this week and with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon on Sunday. (end) jk.hb