World leaders vow vigorous response to Paris terror, but no details

World leaders vow a vigorous response to the Islamic State group’s terror spree in Paris as they open a two-day meeting in Turkey on Sunday, with President Barack Obama calling the violence an “attack on the civilized world” and Russian President Vladimir Putin urging “global efforts” to confront the threat.

But beyond the tough talk and calls for action, there was little indication of how leaders intended to escalate the assault on the extremist group. The attacks in the heart of Europe — combined with earlier incidents in Lebanon and Turkey, as well as the downing of a Russian airliner in Egypt — suggest Islamic State is reaching beyond their base in Iraq and Syria, an expansion the West has feared.

“The skies have been darkened by the horrific attacks that took place in Paris just a day and a half ago,” Obama says shortly after arriving in Antalya, a seaside resort city just a few hundred miles from the Syrian border. He waves off a question from reporters about whether he would authorize additional action against IS.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the summit host, pledges leaders would produce a “strong message” about fighting international terrorism, though he, too, does not spell out specific steps.

— AP