Barack Obama denounces murder of US journalist

Speaking from Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts on Wednesday, Obama said: "Jim was taken from us in an act of violence that shocked the conscience of the entire world." Describing the Islamic State as a "cancer," Obama said the U.S. will continue to do everything to protect its citizens. "When people harm Americans anywhere, we do what's necessary to see that justice is done and we will act against ISIL [now known as the Islamic State], standing alongside others," Obama said. He added: "They declared their ambition to commit genocide against an ancient people. So ISIL speaks for no religion... ISIL has no ideology of any value to human beings. Their ideology is bankrupt." Foley had been missing since November 2012 when he was seized by armed men. He had previously covered conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya, where he also had been captured in 2011 and held for 44 days.