Obama meets Muslim leaders

Washington, Feb 5
US President Barack Obama has met his country's Muslim leaders to discuss a range of national and foreign policy issues.

Health reform, violence and discrimination against Muslims, the White House summit on extremism and the fight against the the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group were some of the matters discussed, the White House said in a statement Wednesday after the meeting.

"The president reiterated his administration's commitment to safeguarding civil rights through hate crimes prosecutions and civil enforcement actions," the release said.

Obama also expressed the need to keep up the fight against the IS and other terrorist groups that "commit horrific acts of violence, purportedly in the name of Islam", the statement added.

The president used the occasion to highlight the "major contributions" of Muslim Americans to the nation and encouraged the leaders of this community to continue being involved in civil society.