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Brussels Starts Another Day On Lockdown; British Prime Minister To Discuss Plans With French President On Fighting ISIS; Belgian Authorities On Extensive Manhunt For Salah Abdeslam. Aired 3-4a ET

Aired November 23, 2015 - 03:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[03:00:01]

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN INTERNATIONAL NEWSROOM HOST: Maximum alert. Brussels starts another day on lockdown, as the hunt for a key suspect if the Paris terror attacks expands.

ERROL BARNETT, CNN INTERNATIONAL NEWSROOM HOST: Battle plan. Britain's David Cameron arrives for talks with President Francois Hollande on fighting ISIS.

CHURCH: And pushing back. The party returns to the streets and cafes in Paris, along with an American classic about the city of lights.

BARNETT: Hello there, and welcome to our viewers in the states and those of yu watching from all around the world. I am Errol Barnett.

CHURCH: And I am Rosemary Church. Thanks for joining us, as we kick off our second hour of CNN Newsroom.

BARNETT: Now, Brussels is on edge. Authorities there understandably concerned about coordinated terror attacks, like the ones in Paris, all of this based on intelligence. They've extended their country's maximum terror alert level, so now schools and subways in the capital are shut down for the day, as you see here soldiers patrolling the streets.

CHURCH: Belgium authorities are also on an extensive man hunt, they are looking for this man, Salah Abdeslam. He's believed to have driven three suicide bombers to Paris on November 13th. Now he's the most wanted man in Europe.

BARNETT: On Sunday, Belgian police staged terror raids across Brussels. A prosecutor described the raids in a late-new night's conference. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ERIC VAN DER SYPT, BELGIAN FEDERAL PROSECUTOR: The Federal Prosecution Office and the Brussels investigating judge specializing in terrorist cases ordered a total of 19 house searches in the Brussels region. These searches took place in (Inaudible). There were also three house searches carried out. In total, 16 persons were arrested. (END VIDEO CLIP)

BARNETT: Let's bring in our Fred Pleitgen, he joins us live from Brussels this morning where it's just past 9:00 a.m. And Fred, the so-called capital of Europe there is essentially shut down in my ways today, based on this imminent threat. That is remarkable.

FRED PLEITGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is absolutely remarkable, Errol. I have been to Brussels a bunch of times in the past. I am standing here in the main square where just two days ago they lit up the Christmas tree here for the first time, and it is absolutely eerily quiet here on the streets. The only people we're seeing out are soldiers or police officers patrolling the streets here around the center of town but have cordoned off some areas. We came in here last night and there was actually a search operation going on.

We spoke to some police officers and some soldiers, as well. They were really quite edgy and nervous about the situation. Of course, one of the reasons is that the authorities warned there is still this threat here for the capital city of Belgium, of possible Paris-style attacks, which would mean gunmen attacking various locations with a fear of what could be some pretty heavy weapons, as well. So certainly, there is a lot of concern among the authorities. There is concern about the population, as well.

However, we do see some people who are trying to go about their daily business. For them, the big problem is less the fact that they're afraid of the situation. It's more that they can't get to work, because public transport has shut down. The bus system is working, but certainly there's a lot fewer buses going than what would be on a normal day. So it's difficult to go around. And you have the fact that a lot of shops are closed. The schools are closed. At this point in time, for this being the administrative capital of the European Union, it is eerily quiet on this Monday morning, which would normally see a rush four going on, Errol.

BARNETT: And it's also troubling if you're a Belgian living there, they have to believe there's an imminent threat, and the prime suspect, Salah Abdeslam, is still on the loose. That is despite the raids in the neighborhood where there were 16 arrests but no firearms or weapons or explosives found. You wonder where the status of this investigation is and if this prime suspect could still be a threat.

[03:05:01]

PLEITGEN: You're absolutely right. And I think you also put your finger on it, as well. The fact that the suspect is still at large, Salah Abdeslam -- even though the Paris attacks have now been nine or ten days ago, that they've had raids pretty much every day that you have soldiers on the streets here. A lot of those raids taking place in the district of Molenbeek, which is part of the capital of Brussels and a place that has seen extremist, go to Syria in the past. It has a troubling history as far as that is concerned.

Even with all of that law enforcement activity going on, with the intelligence obviously trying to get up to speed, that that person is still at large, and at this point it's not clear where exactly he is. The authorities seem to believe that he could be in the Brussels area. That of course, is one of the reasons why the terror threat level for Brussels is even higher than the rest of the country. What you have is the terror threat level four, the threat, the imminent threat of a terror attack and the rest of the country is one stage lower, which is still pretty high.

But they believe he could be, but at this point in time it is unclear. If you look at where the raids were taking place, a lot of them were in the Brussels area, but others in different areas. So they are certainly trying to look at other places, as well. And again, you said it, 16 people apprehended overnight, placed under arrest. However, Salah Abdeslam continues to be at large.

BARNETT: I know it's a difficult question to answer, definitively, Fred, but realistically, you have the subway and schools shut down and this imminent threat. How long can this state of emergency really continue?

PLEITGEN: Yeah, that is a very, very good question. It's certainly one at this point in time the authorities aren't answering yet. They're saying at this point in time, they're continuously reassessing the situation. Of course, the last thing that they want is for the city's public transport to be sidelined or shut down because they have the security situation going on. They obviously want the city to go back to normal. They want people to go out and all the shops to be open again and they want the kids to go to school again.

But it seems at this point in time they are assessing the security situation in a way where they believe they need to keep these measures in place. And certainly judging by what we saw here in the center of the city last night with that security operation going on, with some of the streets around here getting cordoned off by soldiers, it's not clear when they can get things back to normal. But at this point in time, the security and the safety of the residents of Brussels is paramount to them, even though it is a very, very difficult situation to uphold, putting the city life on hold in this way for such an extended period of time, Errol.

BARNETT: That's right. President Obama said in the wake of the Paris attacks, he says this heightened state of alert is not the new normal. Folks there hope that is the case. Fred Pleitgen, live for us in Brussels this morning, thanks, Fred.

CHURCH: And CNN's Max Foster is in Paris for us and joins us live now. Max, it is just after 9:00 in the morning. The big news out of Paris today, of course, British Prime Minister David Cameron has arrived there for talks with President Hollande. We'll have the news conference, but what is expected out of those discussions?

MAX FOSTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, David Cameron here very much to show support with President Hollande. We actually saw a picture that they put out just before the meeting. They didn't tell the media about this, but David Cameron went with President Hollande to stand shoulder to shoulder at the Bataclan Theater. It was a powerful image put out this morning, and that's the main message coming from the David Cameron today.

He then goes into this meeting, largely spearheaded by President Hollande. This is a first of a round of meetings with key allies around the world in forming a coalition against ISIS. So he is meeting David Cameron today, a key ally in Europe. Tomorrow, he goes to Washington to meet President Obama, then Angela Merkel and President Putin as well as on Thursday in Moscow. So this is a large round of meetings, and crucial to President Hollande's battle against ISIS, also, another photo from the French authorities being published as well over the weekend.

Police in France posting this photo of a man who they say was one of the bombers. We're not being given any information about this picture at all, not even his name. They're trying to release as little information as possible, but they need public support in getting to the bottom of this investigation and they want the public to be the eyes and ears.

[03:10:01]

A short while ago, I spoke to a political scientist at the University of Paris and he talked about this renewed effort to coordinate efforts against ISIS.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JULIEN THERON, POLITICAL SCIENTIST AND ANALYST: It all started with U.N. resolution 2249, stating that the states have to take all necessary measures against terrorism. The trouble we have here is we have an international unity on that. But we have to define first what terrorism is. And second, who are the terrorists? And French is terrorists for Turkey. So we have a trouble defining who are the terrorists, regarding to the fight against ISIS in itself, you have to understand that ISIS spread.

Because of a failed state, because of a political turmoil that we have to regulate, of course, the military tool is very important, and we have to use it. But first, more bombs will not solve the solution. It did not solve the solution in Afghanistan, for instance. It won't in Syria or Iraq. I am afraid the fight, meaning Bashar Al Assad would go...

FOSTER: This is the complication, isn't it? Clearly President Hollande wants Russia and the U.S. to work more closely militarily in Syria.

THERON: Yes.

FOSTER: But Obama was saying just yesterday that he doesn't see a future in Syria with Assad. That's the divide Hollande has to bridge with Moscow. He needs to find a political solution before we can work together militarily.

THERON: Yes. France and Russia, actually -- the priority now is fighting ISIS and not Bashar Al Assad, and Vladimir Putin as well by recognizing that the plane in Sinai was actually crushed because of an ISIS bomb. So we are seeing that Russia still bombs moderate forces, which are allied with the west. So we have to get a political solution now.

FOSTER: Can Hollande be the mediator between Obama and Putin to find the middle ground?

THERON: That's the French traditional third way that we have between superpowers.

FOSTER: That's what he's aiming at?

THERON: Yeah, it sounds like the cold war, so he's aiming that. But that's regarding to military matters and mainly about the bombing campaign. And we want to have a solution against ISIS -- won't have a solution without boots on the ground.

FOSTER: David Cameron is meeting President Hollande and he clearly wants to join air strikes in Syria, but needs parliamentary support for that. What support can President Hollande offer on that?

THERON: I think the support of the French President is a signal saying we have some part regarding our E.U. partners. So that's very important to get the vote. But still, like I said, what is it all about? Is it more air campaign? We won't defeat ISIS like that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOSTER: When they come out, I am sure Cameron and Hollande will stand in complete unity in this fight against ISIS.

CHURCH: That seems to be the case. We saw that photo of them there standing shoulder to shoulder. You mentioned there, and you've been reporting that David Cameron wants to join forces with President Hollande in these air strikes against ISIS but needs parliamentary support from the British parliament. How likely is it that he will get that? What is the sense at this point?

FOSTER: It's very unlikely before the French attacks, but I think certainly since the Paris attacks, the U.K. has seen potentially this could happen in the U.K. and there's solidarity with France on this. David Cameron doesn't necessarily have to get parliament support for military action, but he wants to get that. He failed to get it the past in terms of Syria. He did get it in terms of Iraq. But he has failed in that vote. He wants to make sure he's not going to fail in a vote in parliament again.

[03:15:01]

But there are a few things that have changed. His opposition largely came from the Scottish National Party, and the Opposition Labor Party has a new leader who is against air strikes, but he's having some trouble keeping his party together, because there are those that don't support him on that. So I know that behind the scenes, the military defense for example, various M.P.'s in there working hard trying to assess if they can get the numbers in parliament. Since the Paris attacks, it is more likely. And by standing shoulder

to should with the French President today, sends another message back to London. So David Cameron this week will make his personal case to parliament to support air strikes in Syria. He's then going to do the math to see if he has the support of enough members of parliament, which could come in December.

CHURCH: It is a message that is loud and clear. Max Foster, joining us live there. It is 9:15 in the morning in Paris. Of course, Max, we will go to that news conference that will be held between the British Prime Minister and the French President when it happens, many thanks to you.

BARNETT: Now, just a few hours ago, U.S. President Barack Obama landed back in Washington, and this is after a visit to Asia last week.

CHURCH: During his time in Malaysia Sunday, he toughened his stance on ISIS, calling them killers with good social media. Senior White House Correspondent Jim Acosta has the details.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, U.S. PRESIDENT: Good afternoon, everybody.

JIM ACOSTA, SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Overseas for more than a week but well aware of a fearful nation back home, President Obama sounded more like a leader at war.

OBAMA: Our coalition will not relent. Destroying ISIL is not only a realistic goal, we're going to get it done, and we're going to pursue it with every aspect of American power and with all the coalition partners that we have assembled. It's going to get done.

ACOSTA: At a news conference in Malaysia, the President once again defended his strategy for defeating ISIS. But instead of brushing off questions about his policy as he did last week, he acknowledged Americans are deeply worried.

OBAMA: We're not afraid to not elevate, to somehow buy into their fantasy that they're doing something important. They're a bunch of killers, and we fight them and we beat them.

ACOSTA: The President said he just may be able to join forces with Russian President Vladamir Putin to wipe out the terror group after the attacks in Paris and on the Metrojet airliner.

OBAMA: I discussed with President Putin in a brief pull aside his need to recognize that he needs to go after the people who killed Russian citizens.

ACOSTA: And he called on Americans to show compassion to the thousands of Syrian refugees he wants to welcome into the U.S., despite poll numbers showing Americans are resistant to the idea.

OBAMA: Refugees who end up in the United States are the most vetted, scrutinized, thoroughly investigated individuals that ever arrived on American shores.

ACOSTA: The President also appeared to have choice words for Donald Trump.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I want surveillance of these people.

ACOSTA: And the GOP front-runner's proposal to conduct surveillance on Muslims in the U.S.

OBAMA: We must absolutely reject that we are at war with an entire religion. Prejudice and discrimination helps ISIL.

ACOSTA: Knocked back on his heels after his initial response to the Paris attacks was widely panned, he ended this foreign trip speaking from the gut, urging Americans to avoid giving in to fear.

OBAMA: How are you all doing?

ACOSTA: A point he punctuated to a refugee stop in Malaysia, a visit he reflected on as he left the country.

OBAMA: If you were a parent and you saw those kids, and you thought about what they went through, the notion that we couldn't find a home for them anywhere in the United States of America, that's -- that is contrary to our values. The most powerful tool we have to fight ISIL is to say we're not afraid.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: One French town was singled out for an extra layer of security after the Paris attacks. Ahead, we will hear how the residents feel about that.

BARNETT: Plus, we'll hear from a survivor from the Mali hotel siege. Find out what she did the moment she heard gunshots outside her room.

[03:20:01]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BARNETT: Welcome back. Apologies for that small technical glitch, but we appreciate you staying with us. There is a developing story out of the U.S., 16 people were injured in a shootout in New Orleans late Sunday night.

CHURCH: Police say hundreds of people were gathered at a play ground to film a music video when two groups began firing at each other.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL HARRISON, NEW ORLEANS POLICE CHIEF: This event took place in a number of people were in the play ground, several hundred people. We were advised of that. The commander here assigned people to come to close the park down because it was not permitted. As the officers were approaching, they were about a block away when they heard gunshots.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BARNETT: Witnesses tell police that both groups immediately took off after the shooting. Detectives are now searching for surveillance video of the suspects.

CHURCH: The death toll from Friday's attack on a popular hotel in Mali has risen to 22, according to the United Nations. Mali has declared a ten-day state of emergency. But the President says Mali will not shut down in the face of terror.

BARNETT: Investigators say they're following several leads right now. Two Islamist militant groups have claimed responsibility for the attack.

CHURCH: For the latest, we go to CNN's David McKenzie. He joins us live from Mali. David, I know you've had some talks with survivors. One in particular, a woman who really talks about a terrifying experience that she had.

DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. This specialist from the Center for Disease Control was here to set up a new system here for them in Mali to help prevent diseases. Many of the people in that hotel were here to coordinate with Malians, for the peace process, to help this country rebuild after tragic circumstances of several years of insurgency. But she was targeted like many others, and she described to me her harrowing story.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KATHIE FAZEKAS, SURVIVED HOTEL ATTACK: I emailed my husband and I said something like, there's something going on, and I want you to know that I love you. And then when a few hours later when the fire down the hallway, I wrote another email and I said, I do believe there are shooters here, and if I don't make it, I want you to know I love you. And my family, but I am coming home. I do this because I love doing this work, and where we are in the world that we need to continue on.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[03:30:01]

MCKENZIE: She certainly had high praise for the Malian forces which came in quickly to the situation, as well as the U.S. security teams to get them out. Many people were saved, but tragically more than a dozen innocent civilians lost their lives, Rosemary?

CHURCH: It is just horrifying to think what people went through, through that attack, our David McKenzie joining us from Mali, many thanks to you.

BARNETT: We are still standing by for that possible press conference out of Paris with the French and British leaders. In the meantime, let's check some other stories. First to Nigeria, where eight people were killed when a female suicide

bomber detonated her explosives on Sunday, the victims, who were mostly women and children, were going through security screening at a military checkpoint. Maiduguri has been repeatedly attacked by Bokoharam.

CHURCH: Argentina has elected a new leader in its first ever Presidential runoff. The mayor won a majority of the votes. His opponent conceded defeat late Sunday. The vote marks the end of a political dynasty and a conservative shift for Argentina.

BARNETT: And in northern Myanmar, where state-run media are reporting at least 104 people died in a landslide at a jade mine. This happened when mining debris collapsed onto worker's huts while they were sleeping. Military troops are helping with the recovery efforts.

Right now French President Francois Hollande is meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron. They pledged to work together in the fight against ISIS. Let's connect once again with Max Foster. There are some high hopes and expectations out of this meeting, Max?

FOSTER: There really are. It's about David Cameron showing solidarity. Britain is very much affected by this. You have a football match between England and France and you got that sense of solidarity with France. There's a sense of realism, as well. Paris is a city that Brits know so well, and there's a sense if it can happen in Paris, it can happen anywhere. I think David Cameron is going to explain that to President Hollande. We know that personally David Cameron is very committed to air strikes in Syria.

David Cameron wants that support from his parliament and this plays into that debate from President Hollande's perspective, as well. This is a first in a round of meetings with key allies as he tries to gather an international coalition, which includes Russia and the U.S. in the fight against ISIS, in the war against ISIS as he described it. So we'll bring you that conference in the next half hour or so, and we'll see them standing shoulder to shoulder, saying they'll work together.

The next stage is President Hollande going to Washington and doing the same with President Obama tomorrow. Here on the ground after the attacks, a curfew was put into place. The curfew is now over Nic Robertson reports some don't understand why their town was singled out.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTSON: Southeast of Paris, the Sunday market is busy. A few hours earlier, it would have been illegal to be here. There was a curfew, and that upsets some residents.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They're making this all too dramatic. There are no problems here.

ROBERTSON: The curfew between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. is the first of its kind in France since emergency powers were imposed last week and applies only to this, the neighborhood. An area that includes low-cost housing, has a reputation, unfairly locals say, for low-end crime and occasional confrontation with police. The new powers are prompting debate.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is too strict compared to the rest of the town.

ROBERTSON: And that's not good?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, I find it's not good. That's exactly not what we should do.

ROBERTSON: The curfew was imposed after police raids turned up some weapons and false documents. Several people were taken into custody, but most of those have been released now. At the city center, Catholics celebrate in one of the world's oldest gothic cathedrals. Several hours from Paris, all in this tiny tourist city fear another ISIS attack. The curfew was intended to make police raids easier. When I meet the mayor, however, she seems unsure if the curfew that ends Monday is worth the division it's causing.

[03:35:01]

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I want to guarantee the tranquility of the entire population, even if it means limiting the liberties of some, she says. But the curfew was not my decision. It was a decision of the state.

ROBERTSON: Back in Pleasant Fields, Ahmed Zena, who runs a cafe, was shocked how fast the curfew was imposed but worked to support it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We respect the curfew, he says. It was necessary for the police to do their work safely.

ROBERTSON: Most here feel the same, but worry in the rush to follow terror leads, jobs may be lost, more problems created.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You don't have to be afraid to come here you know. It's a touristy city. We are a nice place in this country.

ROBERTSON: So far, no terrorists have been found. And few here expect they will. Nic Robertson, CNN, France.

FOSTER: Meanwhile here in Paris, the people try to move forward. Today is the first full day back to work and school for many people really since the crisis last week. Joining me now is Agnes Torres, she's a Political Commentator and a journalist. You just dropped off your daughter at school. What was different today?

AGNES TORRES, POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Nothing much, apart from the atmosphere perhaps. Since January, we have lived in a higher state of alert. So there's no higher level, but basically there is obviously -- you know, some recommendations, things like this. But only Jewish schools are guarded by armed forces, and you can't put armed forces in front or behind every single citizen, this is not possible. That's not going to happen. So really what we are experiencing is just a continuation of something that started in Germany.

FOSTER: Which were the Charlie Hebdo attacks.

TORRES: Yes.

FOSTER: It was an attack on the culture, wasn't it?

TORRES: Except -- yes, you're right. Different targets, different scale. The horror, much higher than what we experienced, except it's affected us exactly in the same way as one nation. You kill our best cartoonists, you kill our Jews, and you kill our youth. It's the same, we are affected. We are just one nation.

FOSTER: It's been something unifying about it. I was interested to see President Hollande's approval ratings have gone up. Because that's what happens when a country feels under crisis, they need strong leadership and he's shown that actually.

TORRES: Yes, it was expected. The reason why he's unpopular as a French President is because of the unemployment. But on the international stage and what he has done in terms of going to Mali two years ago already, you know, it has always been appreciated by the French people at large.

FOSTER: We'll see that throughout the day, his first meeting with key allies today. Last week, the focus was on internal security, this week it's on international diplomacy. Then it's Obama, then Merkel, then Putin.

TORRES: It's a very busy week for him.

FOSTER: What is his thinking?

TORRES: Perhaps a very -- too many people are there, perhaps we need to ask him questions about Qatari's. In Britain, we have a relationship with those countries who we know actually finance terrorism. So perhaps we need to be coherent. And then it's a question of strategy. Air strikes, yes. But we know so far they have only hardly contained Daesh.

FOSTER: That's going to be his challenge, bringing the Russian position and the U.S. position closer together, and that comes down to whether or not President Assad stays in power. So it's politics ahead of the military action actually.

TORRES: Politics at the highest level. And Turkey, don't forget that Turkey actually entered the fight against Daesh, but a bit like Russia with its own agenda, quite happy to bomb the Kurds. And the Kurds are the only ones actually fighting that war, if we have to use that term, on our behalf as troops on the ground.

[03:40:01]

FOSTER: Agnes, thank you very much indeed.

Rosemary, President Hollande today he is building his coalition to fight that.

CHURCH: All right, many thanks to you, Max Foster there live in Paris.

We will go to that news conference that will be held by the leaders of Britain and France, and as a matter of fact, they are coming out now. They're standing at the podium. We will go to that now.

FRANCOIS HOLLANDE, FRENCH PRESIDENT: Ladies and gentlemen, personally I would like to thank David Cameron for being here this morning. Once again, he's shown his affection to France. I still have the images -- and not just the images of the sound of the French national anthem, but the colors of the match at Wembley, and David Cameron, like the British people, have shown great solidarity faced with this drama, which has affected Paris and France, the French people.

And he placed flowers to show his solidarity to the victims in front of the Bataclan Theater, the meeting that we had this morning was further strengthened, if that were necessary, further strengthened against terrorism and the fight against terrorism. And to see what we have to do in our fight against Daesh, because this is the organization which is fighting war against us. We have an agreement between France, the United Kingdom, which goes back a long time concerning questions of defense.

And what is common beyond what we can do between the European governments. We want to act in the name of France concerning the protection and also concerning the territory, that is to say Syria. As far as our territory and our populations are concerned, again, we exchanged information about how to further strengthen, make more efficient and effective our systems of information, but also on a European level decisions be made. That's why it's very important the interior ministers met on Friday concerning the questions of the control of boarders and the fight against arms trafficking, decisions to act as quickly as possible.

We also need to coordinate our efforts externally. The United Kingdom, as with France, is participating in the coalition in Iraq. And we are showing that our strikes are useful. But we also have to act in Syria. France has made this decision in September. And also the United Kingdom is deciding how they can commit. But they are convinced that we have to continue striking Daesh in Syria. We are going to intensify our strikes and choose targets that make as much damage as possible. This terrorist army and our aircraft carrier, which is soon going to arrive in the area, which is adapted to strike and strike harshly against Daesh, we're also going to base ourselves on the U.N. Security Council, because it laid down the objectives very well from an international point of view.

And as far as Daesh is concerned, to ensure that we can find a political solution in Syria -- this is one we're working on with David Cameron and have been working on this for three years. This political solution is to be able to constitute a government of union in Syria. And we know that Bashar Al Assad cannot be the future that he contributed and what he's done.

[03:45:01]

Therefore, this seems to be the good formula, and we have to ensure that all the countries associated can have this objective to find a political solution in Syria, at the same time striking Daesh. We also want to on a European level, make new decisions. I am thinking about the control of air traffic, everything concerning exchange of information, entries and exits, in other words, external boarders. We need to have certainty that the people who come to us cannot be accomplices of terrorists.

And we have the absolute certainty again that the verifications are taking place at the entry and exits are certain information for the services. And again, I want to emphasize the link that we have not just between France and the United Kingdom, but also concerning the responsibilities that we need to determine our choices faced with terrorism and the protection of our populations, because it is today our responsibility for the future.

DAVID CAMERON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Thank you. It's good to be pack in Paris, a city whose people have shown such courage, determination, and resilience. A city where millions came out on Friday night to live their lives and to send a very clear message to the terrorists, that you will never win. You'll never beat us.

(CROSSTALK)

HOLLANDE: It is absolutely necessary indeed to take decisions in order to stop the terrorists when they attack innocent people of the United Kingdom will do everything it can to support France and its fight against these criminal killers, President Hollande just spoke about -- in the fight against terrorism Daesh in Iraq and Syria. This fight against is coming and we need to share this information, this intelligence in order to fight against these terrorists.

CAMERON: -- and intelligence to better protect ourselves from these brutal terrorists. The U.K. and France are already doing this, but today we agreed to step up our efforts and to work more closely with our European neighbors. In particular, we must do more to tackle the threat of returning foreign fighters. This requires a pan European effort. We need a stronger E.U. border to protect our security more effectively with screening, systematic security checks, and greater sharing of data amongst member states.

We must, without further delay, finally agree to the rules that will enable us to share passenger name records. It is ridiculous we can get more information from countries outside the E.U. than each other, and we must do more to crack down on the trade of illegal firearms. I welcome the strong backing of the E.U. justice for all these measures, but now we have to turn those words into actions. We simply cannot afford to wait any longer. While we do more to protect ourselves here in Europe, we must also do more to defeat ISIL in their heartlands in Syria and Iraq.

The U.K. is already playing its part as the member of the Counter-ISIL Coalition, striking targets in Iraq, providing intelligence over the skies of Syria, and helping our allies with air-to-air refueling. On Friday, the United Nations unanimously backed action against ISIL in Syria and Iraq. Later this week, I will set out in parliament our comprehensive strategy for tackling ISIL. I firmly support the action that President Hollande has taken to strike ISIL in Syria, and it's my firm conviction that Britain should do so, too.

Of course, that will be a decision for parliament to make. Today, I have offered President Hollande assistance with air-to-air refueling. We also discussed ongoing efforts to secure a political solution to the conflict in Syria. We welcome the recent talks in Vienna, and will do what we can to sustain this momentum and to bring all parties to the table so that we can agree to put Syria on a path to a more democratic, inclusive, and stable future.

[03:50:01]

These have been important talks this morning. Later this week, President Hollande will hold discussions with President Obama, President Putin, and Chancellor Merkel. It is clear the world is coming together to tackle this evil, terrorist threat. That was clear Friday night, and one week later here in Paris, the world united in New York. We've shown our firm resolves and together, we will destroy this evil threat. Thank you.

CHURCH: The world united to fight ISIS. We heard that from David Cameron. The Prime Minister of Britain standing shoulder to shoulder literally and figuratively with the French President Hollande. And we heard from Hollande that he talked about Syria, they very much agree that all the coalition partners, all the members of that must turn their backs on Bashar Al Assad that he is not fit to be politically in charge there and they're looking for a unity government, and they've been working on this. But we heard the two leaders there are on the same page when it comes to the leadership in Syria, and striking ISIS in Syria.

BARNETT: That's really the key point what to do with Bashar Al Assad. You heard the French President talk about intelligence sharing, which the U.K. and France have already been doing. They will increase that. And David Cameron, of course, saying that he'll have to get back to London this week and get approval from parliament in order to approve the strategy he will present. Our Max Foster was also listening to this press conference from Paris and can give us some insight on what you thought of what we just heard, very much what we expected, and a unified front. The key question is what comes next?

FOSTER: So I think Hollande then takes the case over to President Obama, trying to create common ground against ISIL in the international community. So I spoke to a political commentator and describe how France often steps in between the super powers of the world, and he's now doing that on this occasion, as well. David Cameron saying he very much supports those French air strikes, which are ramping up as we speak in Syria, and he wants the U.K. to follow suit. He's going back to London to make the case to parliament. I don't think we're going to get a vote until he's 100 percent sure he can get the votes to back his view.

But he'll go back and make his case and we'll see how that goes. That was the U.K.'s perspective. The French perspective is very much showing that President Hollande has the support of a key European ally. Then he's got that big backing from Chancellor Merkel. And then he goes into the meeting with President Putin in Moscow to see if they can find that common ground, particularly with the U.S. and maybe that common ground isn't agreeing on the future of President Assad, because the French President has made it clear he doesn't see a political future in Syria with Assad.

But maybe the solution there is some sort of military solution, which is carving up the ISIS territory into different areas, Russia attacks some areas, and the other coalition attacks the other areas. At least they're coordinating there. So maybe that's the solution. Maybe that's what President Hollande can deliver at the end of this week. Of course, Friday he has the big memorial here in France, which will be a huge moment for France. So last week was about tackling domestic security. This week is about international security and coming back together in Paris to show solidarity with the French people as they remember the victims of the attack.

CHURCH: We are certainly seeing what amounts to a game change as a result of the Paris attacks. And of course, we will see whether it is a unifying force. Our Max Foster joining us there live from Paris. He will take us into the next hour. Thank you so much for watching CNN. I am Rosemary Church.

BARNETT: And I am Errol Barnett. We will see you back here tomorrow at the same time. But CNN Newsroom live from Paris with Max Foster begins after the break, stay with CNN.

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(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FOSTER: Brussels remains under the highest terror alert as authorities in Belgium launch multiple raids.

French authorities release a photo of a third stadium attacker, but his identity remains a mystery.

And as the death toll rises in Mali, we hear an emotional account from one survivor.

Thanks for joining us, I'm Max Foster in Paris and this is CNN Newsroom.

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