Kerry in Asia seeking support against IS

US Secretary of State John Kerry has visited Indonesia to press Southeast Asian nations to step up efforts in the fight against the Islamic State.

US Secretary of State John Kerry

John Kerry has appealed Asian nations to step up their efforts to combat Islamic State extremists. (AAP)

US Secretary of State John Kerry has appealed for Asian nations to step up their efforts to combat Islamic State extremists.

In Jakarta for the inauguration of Indonesia's new president Joko Widodo, Kerry took the opportunity to meet separately with the Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak.

During talks with Najib, Kerry thanked the leader for "Malaysia's strong public comments" condemning IS and support for a United Nations resolution aimed at tackling the threat of radicals who join the extremist group, said another senior US official.

"They also discussed the need for the international community to continue to do more to crack down on foreign fighters," the official said.

Later Monday, he was to see Singaporean Prime Minster Lee Hsien Loong, Philippines Foreign Secretary Albert del Resario as well as Joko, who won Indonesia's hotly contested elections in July.

Officials travelling with Kerry said preventing extremist recruitment in Southeast Asia, particularly in predominantly Muslim nations like Indonesia and Malaysia, is a main non-military priority of the coalition the US is assembling to combat IS.

The US is looking for these countries "to do more and co-operate more" to keep extremist proselytising out of their territories, rebut extremist ideologies, prevent the flow of foreign fighters and crack down on terrorist financing, the officials said.

Jakarta has sought to ban support for IS while police believe up to five Indonesians - including two suicide bombers - have died fighting with radical groups in the Middle East this year.

Kerry also made clear the international community must continue to do more to crack down on foreign fighters.

Kerry's visit to Jakarta is aimed at highlighting the Obama administration's commitment to the Asia-Pacific region, especially its hopes for Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority country and third largest democracy.


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