Sweden will be the first sitting member of the European Union to recognise the state of Palestine.

Prime Minister Stefan Lofven announced the move during his inaugural speech to the new government.

"The conflict between Israel can only be solved with a two-state solution, negotiated in accordance with international law," he said.

"A two-state solution requires mutual recognition and a will to peaceful co-existence. Sweden will therefore recognise the state of Palestine."

Nine peacekeepers with the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali (Minusma) have been killed in an attack by heavily armed gunmen.

The attack on the convoy happened between the north-eastern desert towns of Menaka and Ansongo, according to Minusma spokesman Olivier Salgado.

Arnauld Akodjenou, the deputy head of the mission, said he was "horrified" by the "cowardly" attack.

"Once again, lives have now been lost in the name of peace in Mali. These crimes must not go unpunished," he said in the statement.

Islamic State have purportedly executed British aid worker Alan Henning, releasing a video on Friday showing him kneeling beside a militant in a desert setting.

According to the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadist groups, the one minute, 11-second long video titled "Another Message to America and its Allies" showed Mr Henning introducing himself and saying "because of our parliament's decision to attack the Islamic state, I, as a member of the British public, will now pay the price for that decision."

The United Kingdom commenced air strikes against IS in Iraq earlier this week.

The UK Foreign Office has said that it is working urgently to verify the contents of the video.