PARIS (AFP) - France on Sunday condemned the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria's (ISIS) "heinous murder" of British hostage David Haines, urging international action against the jihadist group.

"The heinous killing of David Haines is yet another demonstration of why the international community must mobilise against (ISIS), a cowardly and abject organisation," the French presidency said in a statement.

President Francois Hollande's office also expressed France's solidarity with Haines' family and Britain.

The ISIS jihadist group on Saturday claimed it beheaded Haines, an aid worker. Two US journalists were shown murdered in similar circumstances in recent weeks.