Video Shows IS Militants Beheading Christians

A video has been released which purports to show 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians being beheaded by Islamic State militants in Libya.

The footage shows handcuffed hostages dressed in orange jumpsuits being murdered by black-clad terrorists.

A caption on the five-minute video says: "The people of the cross, followers of the hostile Egyptian church".

The militants identify themselves as the Tripoli Province of the Islamic State group. The video is titled: "A message signed with blood to the nation of the cross."

In January, the Islamic State branch in Libya claimed to have abducted 21 Egyptian Christians.

Egypt's foreign ministry confirmed at the time that 20 Egyptians had been kidnapped in two separate incidents in Libya.

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al Sisi has declared seven days of mourning and called urgent security talks to discuss a response.

Mr al Sisi said Egypt reserves the right to "respond in a fitting time and manner from these murderers".

Speaking on state television, he said Egyptians will be prevented from travelling to Libya "to preserve their lives", adding: "Egypt is not only defending itself, but all of humanity."

The Coptic Church issued a statement saying it was "confident" the killers would be brought to justice.

"The Orthodox church... is confident its homeland would not rest until the evil perpetrators get their fair retribution for their wicked crime," it said.

Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron has described the murders as "a cruel and barbaric act", adding: "We will not waver in our fight against terrorists and extremism."

Egypt's Copts are the largest Christian community in the Middle East and are estimated to account for around 10% of the Egyptian population.

Thousands of Egyptians have headed to Libya to work since the Egyptian uprising in 2011, despite their government's advice that they should stay away from the country.

The latest video follows the release of footage showing the burning alive of the 26-year-old Jordanian pilot Moaz al Kasasbeh .