Egypt's president has called for a United Nations-backed coalition to rid Libya of Islamic militants.

Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, speaking to France's Europe 1 Radio, said Egyptian air strikes against Islamic State positions in Libya were in self-defence.

Mr el-Sissi, a general-turned-politician, told the radio channel: "We will not allow them to cut off the heads of our children."

Asked whether he wanted to see a UN-backed coalition for Libya, he said: "I think there is no choice."

Egypt's air strikes yesterday were in retaliation for the mass beheading on a beach of Egyptian Coptic Christians. A video of the killings was released by Islamic State late on Sunday.

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