Arab foreign ministers vow 'to defeat terrorism'

Arab foreign ministers have vowed to "defeat terrorism" ahead of next week's Arab League summit in Mauritania.

The statement was made by Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry who called for Arab states to ramp up the fight against "terrorism" in the region.

"We must defeat terrorism, it's a priority," Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said as the meeting with foreign ministers began.

Egypt's security forces have been battling Islamic State group militants in the Sinai, but also clamping down of political dissent on the pretext of "terrorism".

The meeting comes as France continues to mourn 84 people after an attack in Nice by a man claiming to act on behalf of the Islamic State group.

Mauritanian Foreign Minister Isselkou Ould Ahmed Izidbih called on the Arab League to work with African states to fight terrorism.

The Arab League summit could prove controversial as it will include Sudanese President Omar Bashir.

He is wanted by the world's top criminal court suspected of orchestrating a campaign of genocide in West Darfur province.

Also controversial is the expected presence of Egyptian President Abdel Fateh al-Sisi - criticised by human rights groups for the mass detention of critics - and King Salman of Saudi Arabia whose nation is leading a war against rebels in Yemen, which has left thousands of civilians dead.

The Arab foreign ministers agreed to support "all (initiatives) that can help to end the crises of the Arab world, especially the Syrian, Libyan and Yemeni conflicts", a statement said.

They also said the Arab League would back a French and Egyptian initiative to help revive dormant Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

Agencies contributed to this story.