Cameron resists calls for air strikes against IS

Britain resisted pressure today to join the United States in announcing air strikes against Islamic State after the militant group beheaded David Haines, a British hostage, and threatened to kill another Briton.

Speaking after chairing a meeting of the government's COBR emergency-response committee in London, prime minister David Cameron said his government was battling IS on numerous fronts but made clear it was not, for now, launching air strikes.

“As this strategy intensifies, we are ready to take whatever steps are necessary to deal with this threat and keep our country safe,” he said, describing an approach that blended diplomatic pressure, supporting US action and helping Iraqi and local Kurdish authorities.

“Step by step, we must drive back, dismantle, and ultimately destroy ISIL (IS) and what it stands for. We will do so in a calm, deliberate way, but with an iron determination,” he said in a TV statement from his offices.

Britain was quick to join US military action in Afghanistan and Iraq.

But a war-weary public and parliament's rejection last year of air strikes on Syria have made Cameron cautious.

Complicating his decision are the sensitivities surrounding Scotland’s independence referendum on Thursday.

Hunt down those responsible

In an emotional statement in Downing Street earlier today after chairing a meeting of the emergency committee to discuss the killing, the prime minister hailed Mr Haines as a “British hero” and vowed to “hunt down those responsible and bring them to justice no matter how long it takes.”

Islamic State were “not Muslims, they are monsters”, he said, and the UK could not afford to ignore the severe threat the jihadists’ spread posed to both world and domestic security.

Last night, the Islamic State (IS) released the footage showing the 44-year-old being murdered by a knife-wielding militant, who appears to speak with a British accent. The clip also includes a threat to kill a second British hostage, who has been identified as aid worker Alan Henning.

Mr Haines was captured in Syria in March last year. In a statement his brother said the father-of-two had been murdered “in cold blood”.

Mr Haines is the third western hostage to be killed by Islamic State. His death follows those of US journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff.

Their deaths prompted US president Barack Obama to announce a detailed plan to defeat IS in both Iraq and Syria, where the group has gained a foothold amid conflict and instability in the Middle Eastern countries.

Mr Sotloff was seized in Syria in August 2013 and had not been seen until he appeared in the video of Mr Foley’s killing released by IS on August 20th, while there had been a failed attempt to rescue Mr Foley, who was seized in Syria in 2012.

As in both previous releases, the video features a masked man standing next to the victim in a desert. The victim then addresses the camera before the militant speaks.

The masked killer in the latest video is thought to be the same jihadist with a London accent who carried out the on-screen murder of both US reporters.

The murder of Mr Foley sparked a scramble by British intelligence agencies to identify the killer, who has been dubbed ”jihadi John”.

Mr Cameron was speaking today following emergency talks with senior advisers from the military, security services, the Foreign Office and the Home Office in Whitehall this morning. Mr Cameron returned to Downing Street shortly after midnight after a video emerged showing Mr Haines being beheaded.

Mr Haines was taken hostage in Syria while working for ACTED in March last year and his brother said he had a passion for humanitarian work.

“David was most alive and enthusiastic in his humanitarian roles,” Martin Haines said. “His joy and anticipation for the work he went to do in Syria is for myself and family the most important element of this whole sad affair. He was and is loved by all his family and will be missed terribly.”

In separate statements last night, both Mr Cameron and Mr Obama condemned the killing and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice.

“This is a despicable and appalling murder of an innocent aid worker. It is an act of pure evil,” said Mr Cameron. “My heart goes out to the family of David Haines who have shown extraordinary courage and fortitude throughout this ordeal.

“We will do everything in our power to hunt down these murderers and ensure they face justice, however long it takes.”

Mr Obama, who recently announced moves to target IS in Syria, said: "The United States strongly condemns the barbaric murder of UK citizen David Haines by the terrorist group Isil (IS).

“Our hearts go out to the family of Mr Haines and to the people of the United Kingdom. The United States stands shoulder to shoulder tonight with our close friend and ally in grief and resolve.

“We will work with the United Kingdom and a broad coalition of nations from the region and around the world to bring the perpetrators of this outrageous act to justice, and to degrade and destroy this threat to the people of our countries, the region and the world.”

The news came hours after the family of Mr Haines issued a plea to his captors to contact them.

The video begins with an interview clip of Mr Cameron and then features Mr Haines dressed in orange overalls and kneeling down in front of a man holding a knife in what appears to be a desert location.

The victim looks into the camera and says: "My name is David Cawthorne Haines. I would like to declare that I hold you David Cameron entirely responsible for my execution.

"You entered voluntarily into a coalition with the United States against the Islamic State just as your predecessor Tony Blair did, following a trend against our British prime ministers who can't find the courage to say no to the Americans.

“Unfortunately it is we the British public that in the end will pay the price for our Parliament’s selfish decisions.”

The militant then says: “This British man has to the pay the price for your promise, Cameron, to arm the Peshmerga against the Islamic State.

“Your evil alliance with America which continues to strike the Muslims of Iraq and most recently bombed the Haditha Dam will only accelerate your destruction and playing the role of the obedient lapdog Cameron, will only drag you and your people into another bloody and unwinnable war”, he continues.

The video then shows the man take a knife to Mr Haines’ throat, before the victim’s dead body is shown.

The militant adds: “If you, Cameron, persist in fighting the Islamic State then you like your master Obama will have the blood of your people on your hands.”

Mr Haines had a teenage daughter in Scotland from a previous marriage and a four-year-old daughter, Athea, in Croatia from his present marriage.

Educated at Perth Academy secondary school, he worked for aid agencies in some of the world's worst trouble spots, including Libya and South Sudan. He was in Libya during its civil war in 2011, working as head of mission for Handicap International, which helps disabled people in poverty and conflict zones around the world.