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Kerry urges Asia to boost anti-Islamic State push

U.S. State Secretary John Kerry, center, leaves the Parliament building after attending the inauguration ceremony of Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Jakarta, Indonesia, Monday, Oct. 20, 2014. Widodo was inaugurated as Indonesia's new president on Monday, facing the challenges of rebooting a slowing economy and working with a potentially hostile opposition that has already landed some early blows against his administration. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) U.S. State Secretary John Kerry, center, leaves the Parliament building after attending the inauguration ceremony of Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Jakarta, Indonesia, Monday, Oct. 20, 2014. Widodo was inaugurated as Indonesia's new president on Monday, facing the challenges of rebooting a slowing economy and working with a potentially hostile opposition that has already landed some early blows against his administration. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

By Associated Press October 20, 2014 1 min read

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is asking Asian nations to step up their efforts to combat Islamic State extremists and the deadly Ebola virus.

In Jakarta for the inauguration of Indonesia’s new reformist president, Kerry took the opportunity to meet separately with the prime ministers of Malaysia and Australia. Later Monday, he’ll meet with leaders of other Asian nations.

Officials traveling with Kerry say preventing extremist recruitment in Southeast Asia, particularly in predominantly Muslim nations like Indonesia and Malaysia, is a main priority of the coalition the U.S. is assembling to combat the Islamic State group.

On Ebola, Kerry is seeking nations to boost their contributions to the global effort to stop the spread of the virus.