UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. Security Council condemned the “heinous and cowardly” killing of American journalist James Foley and said the Islamic State militant group “must be defeated.”

In a statement, the council called the killing “a tragic reminder of the increasing dangers journalists face every day in Syria.”

“It once again demonstrates the brutality of ISIL, which is responsible for thousands of abuses against the Syrian and Iraqi people,” the council said, using one of the acronyms by which the Islamic State militants are known.

“The members of the Security Council stressed that ISIL must be defeated and that the intolerance, violence and hatred it espouses must be stamped out,” the council said.

The council called for “a common effort amongst governments and institutions” to confront “ISIL, Al-Nusra Front and all other individuals, group, undertakings and entities associated with al-Qaida.”

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