Hollande to meet Obama in Washington on counterterror cooperation

U.S. President Barack Obama will host French President Francois Hollande here next week to coordinate counterterrorism efforts, the White House said Tuesday.

The two leaders will meet in the Oval Office of the White House on Nov. 24, "in the wake of the horrific terrorist attacks in Paris of November 13," the White House said in a statement.

Simultaneous shootings, one of which turned into a hostage taking, and explosions at restaurants, concert hall and the national stadium in Paris on the night of Nov. 13 killed at least 129 people and injured hundreds of others.

The Islamic States (IS), a militant group that has overrun vast swaths of territory in Iraq and Syria, claimed responsibility for the bloody Paris carnage.

The White House said the two presidents will consult and coordinate efforts "to assist France's investigation into these attacks."

They will also discuss further cooperation as part of the 65-member counter-IS coalition, and "reiterate our shared determination to confront the scourge of terrorism," the statement said.

The U.S.-led coalition has been bombing IS targets for more than a year.

On Tuesday, the Elysee Palace said Hollande will meet Obama in Washington on Nov. 24, and he will also meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Nov. 26 in Moscow.

Moscow began airstrikes it said targeted the IS group and other extremists in Syria on Sept. 30. Enditem