France 'in a state of war'

French President Francois Hollande used his speech at the UN General Assembly to mourn the French hostage Herve Gourdel, whose death at the hands of IS-affiliated militants in Algeria he confirmed today.

He remained strident in his support for the anti-IS airstrikes in which France is participating.

"Power is the only way to stop IS terror."

He also said that now is not the time for "cowardly behaviour" from France: it is "in a state of war."