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Hollande, Cameron discuss Syria, refugees crisis over phone

Xinhua, September 8, 2015 Adjust font size:

French President Francois Hollande and British Prime Minister David Cameron discussed on Tuesday ways to reinforce "actions to better coordinate their fight" against Islamist insurgents in Syria, in addition to the mechanisms to better absorb thousands of refugees in Europe.

Over a phone conversation, both leaders held talks on how to push ahead a political transition in Syria where violence has forced civilians to seek refuge in Europe and triggered the continent's worst migration crisis since World War II, the French presidency said in a statement.

The Elysee said Hollande and Cameron discussed the European response to the migrant crisis. According to the French president, a "permanent and binding mechanism to ensure a fair distribution between Europe member states" was needed to address the situation.

France plans to open its doors to some 24,000 Syrian refugees from camps in the Middle East over the next two years while Britain pledged to host 20,000 asylum seekers by 2020, the statement added. Endit