DHAKA: US secretary of state John Kerry has called for a global coalition to combat Islamic State fighters’ ‘genocidal agenda’ after president Barack Obama admitted he had no strategy to tackle the group.

Kerry’s call followed a decision by Britain to raise its terror alert level over fears of possible jihadist attacks.

The number of refugees who have fled Syria, where rebels have been battling the regime as well as jihadists, has now exceeded three million people, the United Nations said.

Writing in the New York Times, a week before a NATO summit in Wales, Kerry urged ‘a united response led by the United States and the broadest possible coalition of nations’, reports The Straits Times.

BDST: 1626 HRS, AUG 30, 2014