France's Fillon says Russia, U.S, Europe must act together against Islamic State

"My foreign policy would be focused, in priority, on destroying Islamic State," said Fillon, a conservative, who polls third or fourth ahead of Sunday's first round of France's presidential election.

"This will only be possible the day the major powers will truly act together," he said, adding: "From Washington to Moscow, I will take the initiative of an international coalition against Islamist terrorism".

Fillon, who has been criticized by rivals for his support to Russia, said: "The more the United States, Europe, Russia, Iran, Turkey and the Gulf countries are divided, the more victory against Islamist totalitarianism will be postponed."

(Reporting by Ingrid Melander; editing by Michel Rose)