PARIS (AP) - The Latest on the Paris conference on combating terror financing (all times local):
7:25 p.m.
French President Emmanuel Macron has welcomed the decision of more than 70 countries to form a coalition with the aim of choking off financing for the Islamic State group and al-Qaida.
In the closing speech of a two-day conference in Paris, Macron praised efforts of participants to agree to cooperate against a "common enemy" despite their differences of approach and competing interests. He called for more transparency and political mobilization on the issue.
Thursday's meeting included countries that have accused each other of funding terrorism, notably in the Persian Gulf. Macron stressed "too many countries have nourished movements with direct or indirect links to terrorism."
He said there will be "no more ambiguity" regarding IS and al-Qaida.
The conference gathered top officials from Western countries, the Arab world and other nations as well as representatives of 18 international organizations.
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4:50 p.m.
More than 70 countries have committed to reinforcing their domestic and collective efforts to combat financing for the Islamic State group and al-Qaida.
Participants at an international conference in Paris agree in a final declaration it is necessary to "fully criminalize" terror financing through effective and proportionate sanctions "even in the absence of links with a specific terrorist act."
The event was convened by French President Emmanuel Macron to coordinate efforts to reduce the terror threat in the long term.
Participants called for better information-sharing between intelligence services, law enforcement, financial businesses and the tech industry.
They also agreed to improve the traceability of funds going to non-governmental organizations and charity associations.
Participants say a similar conference will be held next year in Australia.
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9:30 a.m.
Ministers from more than 70 countries are discussing ways to combat financing for the Islamic State group and Al-Qaida at an international conference in Paris.
The initiative was launched by French President Emmanuel Macron to coordinate efforts to reduce the terror threat in the long term. A string of attacks have killed 245 people in France since January 2015 and dozens of others have been thwarted.
The French organizers noted that IS military defeats on the ground don't prevent the group from pursuing its terrorist activities, along with Al-Qaida -especially in unstable regions of Afghanistan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Yemen, Egypt and sub-Saharan Africa.
Thursday's meeting gathers ministers of justice, finance, foreign affairs and the interior from Western countries, the Arab world and other nations as well as representatives of 18 international organizations.
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(Eric Feferger, Pool via AP). French President Emmanuel Macron delivers his speech during the "No money for terror" conference at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris Thursday, April 26, 2018. Ministers from more th...
(Eric Fefergerg, Pool via AP). International Monetary Fund (IMF) managing director Christine Lagarde, left, listens as French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire speaks during the "No money for terror" conference at the Organization for Economic Cooperatio...
(Philippe Wojazer, Pool via AP). A program is seen before the start of the conference to discuss ways to combat financing for the Islamic State group and Al-Qaida, at the OECD headquarters in Paris, Thursday, April 26, 2018. Ministers from more than 70...
(Eric Fefergerg, Pool via AP). International Monetary Fund (IMF) managing director Christine Lagarde, left, listens as French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire speaks during the "No money for terror" conference at the Organization for Economic Cooperatio...
(Eric Fefergerg, Pool via AP). Participants attend the "No money for terror" conference at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris Thursday, April 26, 2018. Ministers from more than 70 countries are working on ways to ...