The world's eight biggest economic powers should fight Islamist extremism in Mali, Algeria and elsewhere by each focusing on different hotspots, British Prime Minister David Cameron said Thursday in the Swiss town of Davos.
The G8 group should not only use military force when necessary, but also help to build up democratic institutions in African and Arab countries to prevent terrorism, said Cameron, whose country heads the grouping this year.
"The G8 can help discuss how we can best divide this work up between us, and how we can each individually partner up with the countries worst affected to overcome this threat," he told political
and business leaders at the annual World Economic Forum.
He expressed support for France's military mission in Mali, where French forces are fighting alongside the Malian army and an African contingent against Islamist militants.
Cameron also met his German counterpart Angela Merkel in Davos to discuss logistical support to the military effort in Mali, among other issues, a diplomat told dpa.
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan warned at the Forum on Wednesday that extremism in Western Africa must be contained quickly, or it would spread across the region.
Nigeria is among the countries that have deployed troops to Mali.