Sports need to engage "in the battle for gender balance and fairness", says UK Minister for Sport Helen Grant after a BBC Sport study into prize money found 30% of sports reward men more highly than women.

The biggest disparities in prize money were found in football, cricket, golf, darts, snooker and squash.
"There is a gap, it needs to be closed but it's not going to happen overnight. We do know that women's sport is very exciting, we know it can draw really big audiences but we need more media coverage and more commercial investment," Grant told BBC Sport.
"It's not just about the bottom line and profits and the return on investment which I believe they will get, it's also taking part in the battle for gender balance and fairness in the 21st century."
A total of 56 global sports were looked at in the extensive study. Out of 35 sports that pay prize money, 25 pay equally and 10 do not. Fourteen sports, including rugby union and hockey, do not pay any prize money at all. Five sports did not provide information for the investigation and men and women compete alongside each other in horse racing and equestrian.
Athletics, bowls, skating, marathons, shooting, tennis and volleyball have all paid equal prize money since before 2004.
In the past decade, nine more sports have starting doing so with five - diving, sailing, taekwondo, windsurfing and some cycling events - achieving equality in the past couple of years.
Grant was encouraged by the number of sports which do pay equal prize money adding: "In 70% of sports there is parity and that's great and that's what we want. But we also want the others moving in that direction too and I feel it will happen when the full potential of women's sport is seen and realised."
Female footballers are rewarded significantly less than their male counterparts.
For winning this year's World Cup in Brazil, Germany received more than £21m more than Japan's women did after they were crowned world champions in 2011.
This season's men's FA Cup winners, a competition watched in more than 120 countries, will secure £1.8m in prize money while the team who lift the Women's Cup will net £5,000 - the same amount as the winning semi-finalists of non-league competition the FA Vase.
The Football Association has said men's and women's football are incomparable, describing them as "polar opposites" in global reach.
Kelly Simmons, the FA's director of the national game and women's football, said: "The men's game is a huge multi-million pound industry so when you compare it to the women's game, which until three or four years ago was played by amateurs, the gulf is enormous.
"We are investing £12m in women's football this year but we want to direct that investment where we think it will have the biggest impact and at the moment we do not think that is in prize funds.
"However, we are reviewing it and are looking for a commercial partner to take the women's FA Cup to bigger audiences."
Women golfers can earn a handsome living on the LPGA Tour, with Michelle Wie taking home £452,000 this year for winning the women's US Open.
But the American's reward was considerably less than the £1m cheque received by 2014 US Open winner Martin Kaymer.
Ivan Peter Khodabakhsh, chief executive of the Ladies European Tour, said he was striving for parity in prize money.
"The current significant difference in the prize money between men's and women's golf cannot be justified, taking into consideration the competitiveness and quality of professional women's golf worldwide," he told BBC Sport.
But Khodabakhsh added that achieving equality in prize money would require "considerable effort" from governing bodies, corporations and the media.
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In squash, Laura Massaro - the first English woman to hold world and British Open titles simultaneously - has been instrumental in bringing equal prize money to the British Nationals and increasing women's prize money for the British Open.
But for winning her world title, she received £16,300 less than the men's world champion Nick Matthew, who secured £28,600 when he won his third world crown in November 2013.
Andrew Shelley, chief executive of World Squash, said the sport's world championships would bring in equal prize money "soon".
"The tours are committed to equal prize money and, indeed, this was reinforced at the recent World Squash Federation conference," Shelley told BBC Sport.In this year's World Twenty20, Australia beat England in the women's final - and were paid £44,000 in prize money - just hours before Sri Lanka's men overcame India by six wickets for which they were rewarded £690,000.
The International Cricket Council told BBC Sport: "We take a more holistic approach to make sure the overall women's game will grow. There's been a 12-fold increase in funding over the last five years where we now invest $25m (£15.5m) in the women's game, compared with $2m (£1.2m) in the previous five years.
"That money will be spent on development, associate members and pumped back into the game. Everything is increasing, such as participation and media coverage. Who knows where the sport will be in 20 years' time? It's heading in the right direction."
Tennis was the first sport to pay equal prize money when the US Open started doing so in 1973 after campaigning from Billie Jean King and eight other female tennis players.
Stacey Allaster, chief executive of the Women's Tennis Association, said: "The WTA is where we are today because we had strong leaders, like Billie Jean King, who advocated for equality and she got it done in 1973 at the US Open. It was Venus Williams who got us over the line with Wimbledon [getting equal pay in 2007].
"It's that combination of the athletes advocating for what's right, and then the administrators supporting them, creating the public awareness that more equality, and eradicating gender bias in sport, needs to happen."
In snooker and darts, women are allowed to enter and compete alongside men at world championships, provided they qualify. However they do also run separate women's championships, with the British Darts Organisation paying out £12,000 for the women's title and in snooker, Reanne Evans received £1,500 for winning the women's event this year.
The study, which looked at prize money only and does not include wages, bonuses or sponsorship, was commissioned before a conference on Thursday aimed at transforming sport for the benefit of females in the United Kingdom.
It is being delivered by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation (WSFF), which is celebrating its 30th anniversary.
Ruth Holdaway, chief executive of WSFF, said: "We are encouraged that since 2013 a number of sports have taken the positive step towards prize money parity, and this shows that the momentum currently building behind women's sport is having an impact.
"It is, however, disappointing that in 2014 women still find themselves having to battle for equal reward in elite sport."


At least 35% of corals in the northern and central parts of Australia's Great Barrier Reef have been destroyed by bleaching, Australian scientists say.

The experts from James Cook University (JCU) say it is the most extreme case of mass bleaching they have ever measured at the World Heritage Site.
Bleaching occurs when warmer water causes coral to weaken and lose the colourful algae that provide oxygen and nutrients.
It has been linked to climate change.
"We found on average, that 35% of the corals are now dead or dying on 84 reefs that we surveyed along the northern and central sections of the Great Barrier Reef, between Townsville and Papua New Guinea," Professor Terry Hughes, the head of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at JCU, said in a statement.
"This year is the third time in 18 years that the Great Barrier Reef has experienced mass bleaching due to global warming, and the current event is much more extreme than we've measured before.
"We're rapidly running out of time to reduce greenhouse gas emissions."
The scientists warned that the recovery of coral cover is expected to take a decade or longer, but it would take much longer to regain the largest and oldest corals that have died.
Their study was released after months of intensive aerial and underwater surveys.


A steam train has completed its first journey in 50 years after being restored to full working order.

George B left on its first passenger trip from Llanuwchllyn station on the Bala Lake Railway in Gwynedd at 11:00 BST on Saturday.
It was built in 1898 and, originally named Wellington, was used for work at the Dinorwic Quarry.
It was privately purchased in 1965 before being withdrawn from service four years later for restoration.
Owner Alan White sought to restore George B, but due to his circumstances the work was not finished.
In 2003, Bala Lake Railway agreed to transfer George B to Llanwchllyn, where it was worked on with help from Mr White, his brother and a friend.


A woman was seriously injured when her bag got caught in a train door, dragging her along the platform and on to the track, a report has revealed.

The 27-year-old was getting off the Southeastern train at West Wickham, Bromley, when the doors shut on her.
The driver did not see the woman on CCTV and moved off, dragging her along. She then fell under the train.
Southeastern said it had offered support to the woman after the "terrible incident" in April 2015.
The report was carried out by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB).
A Southeastern spokesman said the company had offered to help the woman "as much as possible since the accident".
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The woman had tried to free the stuck bag strap but she was pulled along when the train moved and fell underneath it, resulting in "life-changing injuries", the report said.
Investigators found she was able to open the doors two seconds after the driver had begun the door closure procedure, but was given no indication that they were about to shut.
The RAIB recommended all operators who have trains which use power operated doors should make modifications to ensure passengers always had a safe amount of time to use them.
They also said drivers should watch train doors while they are closing, as well as checking all doors are shut correctly.
Neither the driver, who was a trainee, or their supervisor saw the woman on platform monitors and only found out about the accident later.
Southeastern said it had "worked very closely" with the RAIB and has "complied with all the recommendations and learning points they have made".
A spokesman said this included altering the doors on Southeastern trains to ensure they always remain open for a safe period of time.


Rory McIlroy will take on Patrick Reed in Sunday's opening singles match at the Ryder Cup as Europe look to fight back from 9½-6½ down at Hazeltine.

Europe captain Darren Clarke has put rookie Thomas Pieters, who has won three points with McIlroy, out third.
The Belgian will play American JB Holmes, while Jordan Spieth, who has partnered Reed to three points, faces Henrik Stenson in the second match.
Justin Rose takes on Rickie Fowler and Sergio Garcia faces Phil Mickelson.
Europe need to reach 14 points to retain the trophy, while the US team needs to score 14½ points to win for the first time since 2008.
Europe captain Darren Clarke has put his best players at the top of the order in an effort to overturn the three-point deficit but his selections have been matched by opposite number Davis Love.
"I've obviously been around a lot of teams so it was no secret that they (Europe) were going to load the boat," said Love.
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"So our problem was we say, 'alright, we're going to put the six guys out that are playing really well.'"
The opening match will pit two of the leading figures from the opening two days against one another in McIlroy and Reed.
"It's a mouthwatering prospect for the first match off," said Clarke. "Patrick Reed, who played fantastically well today, against Rory who has played fantastically well all week."
McIlroy was fired up in the face of some hostile crowd reaction on Saturday but his captain has no doubt the world number three will cope with the pressure on Sunday.
"He's playing some of the best golf of his life right now," said Clarke. "I know for a fact that he can't wait to get on that tee. I have no worries about Rory."
Reed is also confident that the atmosphere will bring out the best in him, saying: "I was made for this kind of stuff.
"Any time I can get in front of the crowd, and especially the Americans, and have the red, white and blue on, it just fuels me. For some reason, getting that hyped up, it doesn't really affect me."
Four of Europe's six rookies - Andy Sullivan, Chris Wood, Danny Willett and Matt Fitzpatrick - are in the final five matches, along with Germany's Martin Kaymer.
Clarke and his team are looking to the 'Miracle at Medinah' of four years ago for inspiration, when Europe recovered from 10-6 behind to win.
"We have a chance," said Clarke. "The guys are capable of doing it. There is a precedent."


More motorists alleged to have photographed the aftermath of a crash involving a lorry full of teddy bears face prosecution for using a mobile phone while driving.

At least 15 drivers were initially caught filming or taking pictures after four HGVs smashed into each other on the A14 in Cambridgeshire on 28 May.
But the number identified has since risen to 24, police have said.
They are being sent letters informing them about court proceedings.
No-one was badly hurt in the crash, at about 05:45 BST on the westbound carriageway.
Lorry driver Ron Norris, from Northumberland, had to be cut out of his cab by the fire service, but escaped with minor injuries.
"I was totally stunned. I think it hit me a little bit when I was sat on a stretcher facing my truck and I just broke down in tears," he said.
"I couldn't help but think how on earth I'd got away with this."
Asked what he thought about drivers taking photographs of the accident, he said: "They deserve to get prosecuted.
"I could have died. The other driver could have died.
"If they were on their mobile phones when the crash happened, they could have died as well."
About 16 miles of road between junctions 31 and 36 was closed for several hours while the wreckage was cleared.
Two of the lorry drivers were taken to hospital with minor injuries.


Rory McIlroy says he aims to play in five more events this year before taking an extended break to aid his recovery from a rib injury.

FedEx Cup holder McIlroy intends to play in all four play-off events in the US over the next month before competing in the Dunhill Links event in Scotland.
The play-offs begin with this week's Northern Trust Open as McIlroy aims to get in contention to retain the title.
"I'm OK to play these next four out of five weeks," McIlroy told ESPN.
"But then I do need a prolonged break at some point in 2017 to be ready for 2018."
McIlroy had said he might not compete again in 2017 after finishing in a share of 22nd place at the US PGA Championship but last Friday confirmed his intention to attempt to defend his FedEx Cup crown.
McIlroy is 43rd in the FedEx Cup standings and will need to move into the top 30 in order to earn entry to the concluding Tour Championship.
The Northern Irishman won the second play-offs event in 2016 before clinching a £7.8m bonus as he topped the FedEx Cup standings after triumphing at the Tour Championship.
The play-offs begin with the New York event before next week's Dell Technologies Championship in Boston.
After a week's break, the series resumes with the BMW Championship in Illinois before the Tour Championship in Atlanta.
McIlroy said on Tuesday that Harry Diamond will continue to caddie for him during the play-offs after he split with his long-time bagman JP Fitzgerald following The Open.
The US PGA was only McIlroy's 13th tournament of a season in which he has not won.
McIlroy took six weeks off after losing out in a play-off for the South African Open in January and also missed the PGA Championship at Wentworth and the Memorial Tournament.


President Barack Obama stood in the White House briefing room and, once again, railed against those who object to increased firearm regulation.

"Right now, I can imagine the press releases being cranked out," he said. "We need more guns, they'll argue. Fewer gun safety laws. Does anybody really believe that?"
Mr Obama cited polls that find "the majority of Americans understand we should be changing these laws".
A mid-July survey by the Pew Research Center seems to support his claim. Almost 80% of respondents backed laws preventing the mentally ill from purchasing firearms, and 70% were in favour of a national gun-sale database.
Those numbers don't really mean much, however. What does matter is the opinion of members of the US Congress - and that legislative body is overwhelmingly against further gun regulation.
This disposition of Congress is a reflection of the disproportionate power of less-populated states in the Senate, the conservative-leaning composition of the current House congressional map and a Republican primary process that makes officeholders more sensitive to vehemently pro-gun-rights voters within their party.
Congress doesn't have to represent the views of the majority of Americans, at least as expressed in opinion surveys. It represents the views of Americans who go at the polls on Election Day and the simple majorities in the voting districts in which they cast their ballots.
In the Senate - which currently has 54 Republicans and 46 Democrats (or Democratic-supporting independents) - the individual state populations are the key. The votes of Senators John Barrasso and Mike Enzi in pro-gun Wyoming (population 584,153) have the same weight as gun-control-backing Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer in California (population 38.8 million).
And when it comes to the most divisive proposal queried in the Pew poll - a ban on assault weapons that is supported by 70% of Democrats but only 48% of Republicans - just seven states, including California, have enacted similar measures for their jurisdictions. The large majorities backing gun control in Illinois, for instance, are more than outweighed by pro-gun states like Alaska, Nebraska and Alabama, with a fraction of its population.
In the House of Representatives - which has a 58-vote Republican majority - the divergence between national polls and the political reality within the chamber is even more stark.
Thanks to city-rural demographic trends in which pro-regulation liberals tend to live - and vote - in dense urban centres and state-level efforts by Republican-controlled legislatures to draw advantageous voting districts, many state congressional delegations trend more conservative than the general US voting population.
In 2012, for instance, Mr Obama carried 50.6% of the US vote, but Republican Mitt Romney won more votes in 226 of the nation's 435 congressional districts. Overall, Democratic House candidates received 1.4 million more votes than Republicans, but the conservative party won 33 more seats.
In 2014, 44% of Pennsylvania residents voted for Democratic House candidates, but they only won 27% of that state's seats.
And those victorious Republican candidates are selected in primaries where the financial support of deep-pocketed pro-gun lobbying groups like the National Rifle Association can prove decisive and the voters who turn out are the kind of conservatives who don't take kindly to a candidate in favour of greater restrictions on gun ownership.
It's a political environment where Republican officeholders face grassroot challenges if they're deemed insufficiently conservative but never if they're not moderate enough.
Congress isn't just against high-profile gun regulation - even measures supported by a large majority of the American people - it also prohibits federal efforts to conduct research on the causes of gun violence.
"This is a political choice that we make to allow this to happen every few months in America," Mr Obama said in Thursday's press conference. "If you think this is a problem, then you should expect your elected officials to reflect your views."
During the 2014 mid-term elections, just 36% of eligible voters went to the polls. And more of them, at least in states and congressional districts where it counts, voted for Republican candidates picked in primaries by just 9.5% of US registered voters.
In the US today, it's the gun-control views of that 9.5% that make the difference.


A grand coalition between Germany's centre-right and centre-left parties has moved a step nearer, nearly a month after the general election.

The leaders of Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) and the opposition Social Democrats (SPD) have agreed on formal negotiations.
They reached agreement at a third round of exploratory talks in Berlin.
CDU leaders seem to have softened their opposition to a national minimum wage, a concession to the SPD.
Some of the negotiating will be over who gets which ministry, the BBC's Steve Evans reports from the German capital.
If the SPD take charge of finance, the departure of current minister Wolfgang Schaeuble may mean a softening of German economic policy.
Forming a new German government can be a long and difficult process but all the signs now point to a grand coalition, our correspondent says.
The CDU, along with its Bavarian sister party the CSU, fell just short of an outright majority at the polls on 22 September.
The CDU/CSU took about 41.5% of the vote, the SPD won 26%, the former communist Left Party 8.6% and the Greens 8.4%.
Germany is the EU's most populous country and has its biggest economy, making it a pivotal member of the eurozone.
"At the end of the third round of exploratory talks we are convinced that we can find sensible solutions for both sides, and most of all for the country, even on disputed questions," SPD chairman Sigmar Gabriel said.
"The conservatives know... that a nationwide minimum wage of 8.5 euros [Â£7.2; $11.5]... is one of the central tasks and without this a coalition would not make sense for the SPD. That was no big surprise for the CDU/CSU."
CDU secretary general Hermann Groehe said: "We have a joint goal of seeing a sensible minimum wage ruling - I am sure we will find a result but we didn't discuss it today."
"In the three exploratory sessions it became clear that with regards to identifying the most pressing political tasks facing Germany over the next four years and how to deal with these, we can find enough common ground to rule this country successfully," he said.
The chairman of the CSU, Horst Seehofer, said the paramount issue for him remained "no tax increases and no new debt", according to the Munich daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung.
Mrs Merkel's previous coalition ally, the Free Democrats, failed to win any seats so the two-term chancellor set about seeking a new partner.
Talks with the Greens ended in failure on Wednesday and both of the big parties have ruled out a coalition with the Left Party.
As well as the proposed minimum wage, taxation will also be a key issue for the talks.
The SPD has not won an election since 2002 and it joined a previous grand coalition under Mrs Merkel in 2005.
One final hurdle for the coalition deal will be a vote by SPD party members, promised by the party leadership, on whether to endorse it.


A hospital has been ordered to report weekly to the health watchdog amid concerns of high death rates during or after heart operations.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said it would monitor the heart unit of Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital for the "foreseeable future".
The University Hospitals Birmingham Trust said the figures had been caused by "a cluster of deaths".
It said they related to a surgeon who was later dismissed.
The CQC said it would publish its findings in the near future.
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Data from the Society for Cardiothoracic Surgeons showed the cardiac surgical unit at Queen Elizabeth Hospital had an above average death rate over the three years from April 2011 to March 2014.
The data, published in September 2015, showed the unit operated on 1,713 patients with a survival rate of 95.54%, which indicated 77 of the patients died.
However, the trust said the figures were misleading because they did not consider all operations carried out by its surgeons on NHS patients at Birmingham's private Priory Hospital, which it claimed would have proved the death rate was not above average.
Prof Sir Mike Richards, Chief Inspector of Hospitals at the CQC, said it had conducted an inspection at the trust on 21 and 22 December 2015 following information from the trust's own audit.
"Our inspectors found significant concerns particularly with regard to the safety, effectiveness and responsiveness of the service," said Sir Mike.
As a result the CQC told the trust to "take immediate action" and had been "monitoring individual patient safety and outcome data on a weekly basis", he added.
An independent team from the Royal College of Surgeons is also conducting a review to determine what improvements may be needed.
The trust released a statement saying it had "taken action as early as June 2013 when internal data identified a cluster of deaths between September 2011 and September 2012 related to one surgeon".
Ian Wilson was dismissed from the QE Hospital following an internal inquiry showing he was misreporting medical data of bypass patients.
Investigations into Mr Wilson began in 2013 after an audit found 15 of his patients died over a 14-month period.
The General Medical Council said Mr Wilson was working under interim conditions while an investigation took place.


World leaders are locked in a divisive debate over Syria, at the end of the first day of the G20 summit in Russia.

Opening the summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed Syria would be discussed at the working dinner.
US President Barack Obama is pushing for support for military strikes. Russia and China have warned the US not to take action without UN backing.
Meanwhile, Syria's parliamentary speaker has written to the speaker of the US House of Representatives.
In his letter to John Boehner, Mohammed Jihad al-Lahham urged the US Congress not to rush into what he called "irresponsible, reckless action".
Mr Putin, in his opening remarks, told the leaders gathered in St Petersburg that some participants had asked for time to discuss "very acute topics of international politics, in particular the situation around Syria", even though it is not on the agenda.
By Jeremy BowenBBC Middle East editor, Damascus
Even though the traffic is moving, Damascus is not a normal city. Manufacturing has been badly hit. The way people live has been badly hit. There are two million people displaced in the city.
As for the rest of the country, many cities are pretty much in ruins. The whole structure of society in Syria has been fractured by more than two years of fighting. In a sense, looking ahead to an American attack if it happens, people are saying "look, we've been through a lot already, we're tough, we're hardened".
But there is something about an attack by the most powerful country in the world that is uniquely alarming. Among Assad supporters, there is a feeling of being more on a war footing, especially for the men who carry guns for the regime. They are concerned that if there is an American attack, there could be follow-up attacks by rebels who are in the suburbs not far from here.
"I suggest we do this during dinner so that we... in the first part can discuss the [economic] problems we had gathered here for," he said.
The BBC's Bridget Kendall in St Petersburg says, in the short-term, the leaders can only hope that their discussion over Syria at dinner does not descend into an even more bitter row than it is already.
The government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is accused of using chemical weapons against civilians on several occasions during the 30-month conflict.
The US said the most recent attack took place on 21 August on the outskirts of Damascus and had killed 1,429 people. It released an intelligence assessment blaming the Syrian government.
German and US media reports published further analysis on Thursday both claiming that the gas used in the attack was more potent than expected, and that Syrian forces may have got the mix wrong.
UK Prime Minister David Cameron has told the BBC British scientists have uncovered further evidence linking the Damascus attack to the use of chemical weapons.
Mr Assad's government has denied involvement and said the rebels were responsible.
Some 100,000 people have died in the conflict, and more than two million Syrians are classified as refugees, according to the UN.
On the G20 sidelines, Mr Putin's spokesman once again dismissed the US intelligence assessment on the Damascus attack.
"We can't accept proof that is a long way from being convincing," said Dmitry Peskov.
Mr Obama, who is trying to build support in the US for military action against the Syrian government, held informal talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe over the issue.
Mr Obama said Japan and the US had a "joint recognition" that the use of chemical weapons in Syria was a tragedy and a violation of international law.
Mr Abe has not stated publicly whether he supports military strikes.
In the run-up to the summit, the US and Russia have engaged in tit-for-tat insults.
US Secretary of State John Kerry accused Russia of "obstructionism", and Mr Putin responded by calling Mr Kerry a "liar".
On Thursday, the US envoy to the UN continued the tough rhetoric, accusing Russia of holding the UN Security Council hostage.
Samantha Power said that Russia, which has twice blocked resolutions on Syria, had ensured that there was "no viable path" for action through the Security Council.
Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev told the BBC's Newsnight programme in an interview to be broadcast later on Thursday that Mr Obama and Mr Putin must meet.
"They must strike up a conversation that will lead to the improvement of relations and stop the things which are happening now," he said.
In other developments:
France has strongly backed the US plan for military action. The French parliament debated the issue on Wednesday, although no vote was held.
On Wednesday, a US Senate panel approved the use of military force in Syria for 60 days with the possibility to extend it for 30 days.
The measure now goes to a full Senate vote next week and must also be approved by the US House of Representatives.
Mr Lahham, in his letter to Mr Boehner, invited a congressional delegation to Damascus and urged US congressmen to embrace civilised dialogue instead of the language of fire and blood.
He stressed the US and Syria have a common enemy - al-Qaeda and its affiliates who are playing an increasingly prominent role in the armed opposition in Syria.
The BBC's Jeremy Bowen in Damascus says the letter is similar to the one emailed to the speaker of the UK's House of Commons and copied to all the MPs just before they decided to vote against military action.
On Thursday the medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said one of its surgeons, a Syrian working in Aleppo province, had been killed.
It gave no details of the circumstances but called for humanitarian workers to be protected.
Separately, Syrian rebels have launched an assault on the religiously mixed village of Maaloula, in western Syria, held by government forces.
A Christian nun in Maaloula told the Associated Press news agency that the rebels had seized a mountain-top hotel and were shelling the community below.


Ospreys and Wales prop Paul James faces a spell on the sidelines after the loose-head underwent eye surgery.

The 33-year-old joins Wales forwards Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tupuric on the Ospreys injured list.
James captained Ospreys in their Pro 12 defeat by Scarlets but was referred to an eye specialist after a problem was picked up following Saturday's game.
"We'll continue to consult with the specialist," said Ospreys medical performance manager Chris Towers.
"Paul had an operation on Thursday. We are still awaiting further details of his after-care.
"As part of Paul's routine post-match medical check on Saturday, the doctor identified an eye problem and referred him to a specialist for consultation.
"His advice was that surgery was required to prevent the issue worsening."


The author who wrote the books that inspired the long-running TV series Heartbeat has died aged 80.

Peter Walker, a former policeman who wrote under the pen name Nicholas Rhea, lived at Ampleforth in North Yorkshire.
His daughter, Tricia, said her father's cancer had returned two weeks ago and he died at home on Friday.
His Constable series of books inspired the Yorkshire Television production, set in the 1960s, which ran between 1992 and 2010.
The programme followed the life of a young police officer transferred from London to the North York Moors.
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Ms Walker said on her Facebook page that her father had died surrounded by his family in the home he had lived in for 50 years.
She wrote he was a "Yorkshireman to the end".
His funeral will take place at Our Lady's & St Benedict's Church, Ampleforth on Friday.


An unlicensed blood product which claims to treat cancer and autism is still being sold, despite warnings that it could pose a significant risk to health, the BBC has learned.

"GcMAF" is an injectable product made from human blood, produced by Guernsey-based Immuno Biotech Ltd and manufactured in the UK.
The company claims GcMAF is "the body's way of becoming cancer free", that 85% of people with autism "respond", and "15% make full recoveries". It also claims "full recoveries in 70% of cases" of ME and chronic fatigue syndrome.
But experts say there is no evidence to support claims it could potentially cure autism or cancer.
The Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has also raised concerns over whether the product is sterile and free from contamination.
Earlier this year, MHRA investigators seized 10,000 vials of GcMAF when they inspected the firm's Cambridgeshire factory. They issued a warning about its sterility and said they had concerns that it might be contaminated.
The regulator advised that GcMAF "may pose a significant risk to people's health" and cautioned anyone who had used it to seek professional medical advice. They said the product had not been not been tested for quality, safety or effectiveness.
Guernsey has its own legislative body, and under Guernsey law it is illegal to market or sell an unlicensed medicine from or within the bailiwick.
Despite this, the BBC has discovered the product has not been removed from sale, with the company offering to supply it to an undercover reporter posing as the parent of an autistic child.
A representative at Immuno Biotech's Guernsey office told the reporter: "Our product is still available, it's just that we can't ship to the UK."
She described how the company, which trades as First Immune, continued to supply customers: "What people in the UK are doing is they give us an alternate shipping address: if it's in Europe, we can ship there."
She advised having the product shipped onwards into the UK and added that the product had "wonderful results" in autistic patients.
First Immune said it would cost 660 euros for one vial of GcMAF, plus 60 euros for a courier service. It said it was regularly shipping the product to countries such as Australia from a dispatch centre in Europe.
Some overseas customers had been paying nearly $1,000 a month for the drug, in the belief it would cure their children of autism.
One mother, who bought the treatment for her son, explained: "You have parents that are desperate and they're trying to help their kids and they'll do anything to help them, and I think they took advantage of that."
She said she feared for her son's health when she read about the MHRA warning: "I thought maybe his blood was poisoned, I was thinking the worst."
The National Autistic Society has told the BBC it is "extremely concerned". Jane Harris, its director of external affairs and social change, said: "There is no serious evidence of any kind to support the claims made for GcMAF.
"We are extremely concerned that vulnerable families, struggling with some of the challenges of autism, could still be supplied with GcMAF, despite the MHRA's warning about this unlicensed product."
Fiona O'Leary runs Autistic Rights Together and has two children with autism. She has raised concerns with both the Guernsey authorities and the MHRA about GcMAF. She said: "Parents can be vulnerable when they receive a diagnosis of autism for their child and many are preyed upon."
The company has also been criticised for its stance on cancer treatment, Its chief executive, David Noakes, advises cancer patients to avoid conventional therapies, saying: "You should not take anything that is destroying your immune system - so we advise strongly don't take chemotherapy because it will destroy your immune system."
Leading cancer charity Cancer Research UK has warned cancer patients not to use the product. Dr Kat Arney, its science communications manager, said: "GcMAF isn't approved or licensed in the UK for treating cancer or any other disease and it may cause harm, especially if people stop conventional treatment in favour of this unproven alternative."
The Guernsey government says it will act on any evidence of unlawful activity relating to the importation, export, manufacture, sale or supply of GcMAF in or from Guernsey. Earlier this year the authorities stopped issuing import licences for GcMAF.
It says its Health and Social Services Department is continuing to work closely with the MHRA in relation to the investigation.
Investigations into GcMAF are also under way outside the UK. Immuno Biotech has supplied the drug to James Jeffrey Bradstreet, a controversial US doctor who used GcMAF to treat patients with autism.
The US Food and Drug Administration searched Dr Bradstreet's premises, with a warrant for GcMAF in July. Three days later Dr Bradstreet was found dead. The local sheriff reported suicide.
Meanwhile, Swiss authorities are investigating a business in Lausanne run by David Noakes, which was treating cancer patients with GcMAF.
The Swiss were alerted after a number of foreign cancer patients who had been visiting the facility in Lausanne were treated at the local university hospital. The patients, who were terminally ill, all died. Two died in Switzerland, the others after they returned home. The premises were not authorised to treat patients and were closed by the authorities.
Hear the full report on 5 live Investigates on BBC 5 live on Sunday 27 September 2015 at 11:00 BST. Or download the programme podcast.


Chancellor George Osborne will "lessen" the impact of tax credit cuts on families after the House of Lords voted against the government's plans.

But the Treasury says the changes will save over £4bn a year from 2016 and claims most working families will still be better off by 2017, as a result of the introduction of the National Living Wage and changes to income tax thresholds.
People have been contacting the BBC about the recent proposals by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Here is a selection for their comments:
@goonerfm tweets his alternative:
Leza Brumbill in Romsey, Southampton: I am a single mum with three boys.
I go to work 24 hours a week, and have to pay for childcare. I rely on my tax credits to top up my earnings.
The pressure is on me to provide a loving, secure, good standard of living for my children but cutting my taxes by nearly £1,000 is going to put more pressure on me to achieve this.
Rachel in Norfolk: I believe the cuts should go ahead. I live in a deprived area. My husband has a zero hour contract and only works a few hours a month. He primarily cares for our daughter. I work full-time.
Our net income is about £2,000 per month at best. We know families on tax credits who have higher net incomes than us but pay almost no tax and National Insurance.
These families can afford to smoke, drink, go clubbing and eat out yet we cannot. It is demotivating, going to work and knowing others earn more than you for doing less.
I have started to wonder why I don't take a less stressful job for a minimum wage and receive tax credits to top it back up.
Peter in Rochdale messaged on WhatsApp to express his concerns as a single parent:
Sharon Court in Portsmouth: We are a working family, but our income is low.
I have a degree and I do freelance work part-time as my children are in primary school.
Without tax credits we would almost certainly be plunged into debt. Raising the minimum wage is important, but it has no direct impact on me as I'm self-employed.
Lots of people like me are slipping through the cracks.
Martin Godfrey in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire: I have never claimed tax credits. I object strongly to a system that hands my hard-earned taxes to people who should be taking responsibility for their own lives and the decisions they make rather than relying on the state to look after them.
@anequal tweets his satisfaction at the House of Lords' rejection of the chancellor's plans:
Lee Dunlop in Williton, Somerset: My wife and I receive tax and child tax credits.
I work 25-30 hours per week as a school caretaker.
My pay is £8.08 per hour out of which I contribute towards a pension.
I am ex-army and in February 2013 received a kidney transplant. I am unable to work more hours. What are we supposed to do?
Stacey Sutton in Worcester: These tax cuts will be catastrophic for my family.
I have a six and one-year-old. Nursery fees are extortionate. I work 16 hours per week and my husband works in retail full-time - it's barely above the minimum wage.
I want to work. I don't want to just be sitting at home claiming off the state. Even with the tax credits we get now we are really struggling to buy food and pay the bills.
God knows how we are going to be able to afford Christmas!
Tony Dessauer in Eaton Bray, Bedfordshire: I had become complacent about the income from the tax credits.
I now deliver groceries 39 hours a week on a low wage. I am 63 and see nothing wrong with working.
I appreciate why there is an uproar about the cuts but I don't believe they should be the norm. People like me who are perfectly capable, should work.
The poorest earners and single parents need help definitely. We should all work if we need to and not rely on the state to pay us a wage.
Compiled by Sherie Ryder


NHS Dumfries and Galloway has issued a warning to intravenous drug users after a number of cases of blood poisoning in the region.

A spokesperson said it was in response to incidents over the last two months.
Posters carrying a warning message have been issued and NHS Dumfries and Galloway said it was working with the specialist drug and alcohol service to promote "safer injecting".
A meeting is also planned to "recommend any further measures as appropriate."


Surrey all-rounder James Burke has left the county in order "to further his career elsewhere."

Burke joined Leicestershire on a season-long loan deal in January, but his only appearance came against Loughborough University in March.
In 13 first-class games for Somerset and Surrey, the 26-year-old has scored 274 runs and taken 23 wickets at an average of 30.60.
"I have thoroughly enjoyed my career at Surrey," he told the club website.


A tourist bus route on the Isle of Wight should carry locals with concessionary passes, parish councils have claimed.

The Island Coaster service runs between Ryde to Alum Bay and Yarmouth during the summer months but does not accept concessionary bus passes.
Six parish councils have said it could help mitigate the impact of cuts to public transport.
Isle of Wight Council said it was considering the issue.
The Coaster, run by Southern Vectis, is exempt from the England National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) which provides free local bus travel to eligible older or disabled people.
In an open letter to the council, six parish and town councils said it should be opened up to concessionary pass holders to mitigate the effects of public transport cuts.
The 6 and 12 services, which follow similar routes to the Coaster, were reduced following cuts to subsidies earlier this year.
Niton parish councillor Jonathan Young said: "Residents see these buses going past their door and they really don't understand why they have to wait for a different one.
"The Coaster is now de facto an important part of the local bus network for a large part of the route, regardless of its original purpose.
An Isle of Wight Council spokeswoman said "The council is currently considering a request to consider Island Coaster's inclusion into the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme."


West Ham must wait to see if they will secure European football next season as Mame Biram Diouf's late header earned Stoke victory at the Britannia Stadium.

Michail Antonio's turn and shot gave Slaven Bilic's side the lead as they totally dominated the first half.
Giannelli Imbula equalised with a 20-yard effort before substitute Diouf powered home a Charlie Adam corner.
West Ham finish seventh and, in order to qualify for the Europa League, need Manchester United to win the FA Cup.
Stoke finish ninth for the third successive season.
Southampton's victory over Crystal Palace ensured they leapfrogged the Hammers.
Relive Stoke's victory here.
Follow all the reaction to the final day of the Premier League here.
After the high emotion of Tuesday night's goodbye to Upton Park, West Ham did not appear to suffer any hangover as they created all the chances in the first half - yet still ended up losing.
Knowing a victory would secure at least a sixth-place finish, the visitors took the lead when Antonio held off the Stoke defence at a corner and fired past Shay Given.
The winger then shot over and Diafro Sakho found the side-netting with Stoke, winless in six games, offering no threat of their own.
Mark Hughes' men at least woke up after the break but Sakho should have made it 2-0 when he side-footed at Given after another fine run by the excellent Antonio.
Even after Stoke's equaliser, Given made a brilliant double save from Enner Valencia and Emmanuel Emenike, while Glenn Whelan just about cleared off the line from Cheikhou Kouyate.
The goal review system showed only a tiny fraction of the ball had not crossed the line. On such small margins can European qualification rest.
Stoke ended last season with a 6-1 demolition of Liverpool at the Britannia Stadium, scoring five of them in the first half. Here, they managed only one shot in the opening 45 minutes.
It could only get better after the break and, although there was a significant improvement, they were still fortunate to equalise when record signing Imbula picked out the bottom right-hand corner after running across the box.
West Ham had 20 shots to Stoke's seven but the Potters dug in to keep the visitors out as chances mounted up at 1-1.
Substitute Charlie Adam almost repeated his feat of scoring from his own half, as he did against Chelsea in April 2015, but a backpeddling Darren Randolph juggled the ball over at the second attempt.
Diouf's 88th-minute header gave them an unexpected reward and a first win in seven league games.
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic: "Basically, the most important thing today was to win no matter how and that we didn't do. We're disappointed to lose sixth place in the last game of the season. But it was still a great season for us. It makes us proud.
"I'd like to congratulate Stoke - they took their chances. But it is hard to take this defeat. For the whole game we played much better football. You have to take 50% of your chances. I said to my players at half-time if it was basketball we would be 20 points clear.
"Despite losing, I'm happy because we played really good football and were totally dominant in a difficult game."
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Stoke boss Mark Hughes: "We lost a little bit of confidence, as we have done of late, because we've had a few defeats.
"We just needed to regroup at half-time. It could have been very easy to go long [at 1-0 down] and I think we would have been beaten once again. Credit to the lads: they were brave and played their stuff and, in the end, got their reward.
"We wanted at least a top-10 finish and we knew we would have to work hard to get that."
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The culture of delay and denial over NHS complaints in England must come to an end, a review of the system says.

The government-commissioned inquiry - led by Labour MP Ann Clwyd - said too many patients found the current approach unresponsive and confusing.
It said it was putting the health service on a year's notice to improve accountability and transparency.
To achieve this, the review has got 12 key organisations to sign up to a series of pledges.
These include:
The review was commissioned by the government after the public inquiry into the Stafford Hospital scandal.
Ms Clwyd was asked to lead it after she broke down in a BBC interview last December while describing the poor care her late husband had received.
She was sent more than 2,500 letters and emails from people describing similar problems and dissatisfaction with the way complaints are handled.
They said they were often unaware of how to make complaints or of the identities of staff they wanted to complain about.
They also said they feared reprisals if they did raise concerns.
The report concluded there had been a "decade of failure" and called for a revolution in complaints handling.
As well as the steps mentioned above, it said relatively simple measures, such as providing patients with paper and a pen beside their beds and displaying the names of staff on duty, could also help.
Ms Clwyd said: "When I made public the circumstances of my own husband's death last year, I was shocked by the deluge of correspondence from people whose experience of hospitals was heart-breaking.
"It made me determined to do my best to get change in the system.
"The days of delay, deny and defend must end and hospitals must become open, learning organisations."
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt welcomed the report and said a full response to the Stafford Hospital inquiry and the reports that have followed, which include this one as well as others on healthcare assistants, mortality rates and patient safety, would be made before the end of the year.
He added: "I want to see a complete transformation in hospitals' approach to complaints so that they become valued as vital learning tools."
But patient groups questioned how committed the government really was.
Peter Walsh, of Action Against Medical Accidents, pointed out that the government appeared to be watering down the duty of candour called for after the Stafford Hospital scandal.
The public inquiry had suggested this should become a legally enforceable duty, but latest plans suggest this will only be applied to the most serious cases of harm.
Mr Walsh said: "For all the good commonsense proposals contained in the report, they would be rendered useless if the government restricts the duty of candour in this way."
Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham said: "The NHS has an unfortunate tendency to push complainants away and pull down the shutters. That has to change."
The report comes as the health ombudsman calls for a 24-hour advice service for unhappy patients.
Writing in the BBC News website's Scrubbing Up column, ombudsman Dame Julie Mellor said: "Too often we hear of patients not having the confidence to raise a concern on a hospital ward."
She said patients and carers should be able to access advice on how to raise a concern "24 hours a day, seven days a week", and that "every patient, carer and relative would have the opportunity to raise an issue in person, by email or over the phone".


Ever wondered whether cats are more selfish than dogs, if cats have friends, or whether you should ever look a cat in the eye?

7 October 2014 Last updated at 15:42 BST
New BBC series, Cat Watch, has been following the lives of 100 cats to discover more about them.
So we asked Cat Watch presenter, Liz Bonnin, to answer a few questions about our feline friends.
Cat Watch starts on Tuesday evening at 8pm on BBC Two.


Fidel Castro, who has died aged 90, was a "huge figure in our lives", Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said.

Mr Corbyn praised the former Cuban president's revolutionary "heroism", his presence on the world stage and Cuba's health and education systems.
Mr Castro's death was announced by his younger brother Raul Castro, his successor as president of Cuba.
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said Fidel Castro had been a "historic, if controversial figure".
Mr Johnson expressed the UK's condolences to the government and people of Cuba, and said Mr Castro's death marked "the end of an era for Cuba and the start of a new one for Cuba's people".
He added: "The UK will continue to work with the government of Cuba on a wide range of foreign policy priorities, including on human rights."
Live updates
Obituary: Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro: A life in pictures
Fidel: The world icon
Former Labour London mayor Ken Livingstone called Mr Castro an "absolute giant" of the 20th Century.
Former Labour MP George Galloway tweeted a picture of himself with Mr Castro, writing: "You were the greatest man I ever met Comandante Fidel. You were the man of the century."
But other senior Labour figures have been more critical.
Mr Corbyn, a long-time supporter of the Cuba Solidarity Campaign - which campaigns against the blockade on, and foreign intervention in, Cuba - described Mr Castro as a "huge figure of modern history, national independence and 20th Century socialism".
He said: "From building a world-class health and education system, to Cuba's record of international solidarity abroad, Castro's achievements were many.
"For all his flaws, Castro's support for Angola played a crucial role in bringing an end to apartheid in South Africa and he will be remembered both as an internationalist and a champion of social justice."
He acknowledged "there were problems and there are problems of excesses by all regimes" but "we have to look at the thing in its totality" and Mr Castro had "seen off a lot of US presidents".
But former Labour home secretary Jacqui Smith said the reason Mr Castro "'saw off' so many US presidents is because they're democratically elected".
And Labour MP Mike Gapes, a former chairman of the Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee, highlighted a Human Rights Watch report that reported "much worse than just some 'problems and excesses' in Cuba".
In London, Latin American ambassadors, academics and activists had gathered at a conference, where they remembered Fidel Castro.
The Cuban ambassador to the United Kingdom, Teresita Vicente Sotolongo, described the former president as a "very warm person".
"I don't think we were ever prepared to think that he's not here in person, not with us. But I am confident his legacy we will go on," she said.
Rob Miller, from the Cuba Solidarity Campaign, met Fidel Castro as a teenager and described him as "charming" and "very interested in our lives".
"Fidel embodies that David and Goliath spirit that has seen Cuba develop its own ways and its own politics, its own destiny," said Mr Miller.
A book of condolence will be opened at the Cuban embassy in London.
By chance, London is today playing host to the Latin America Conference, described as the largest event of the year for Latin American solidarity in Britain. The start of proceedings were marked with a minute's silence, followed by applause as a tribute to Fidel Castro's life.
The Cuba Solidarity Campaign described him as a great man, who demonstrated that another world is possible, economically and politically. There is a real sense of sadness among delegates here, not least from the Cuban ambassador to the UK, Teresita Vicente, who looked visibly upset when talking about the two occasions on which she met Fidel Castro.
Everyone here knew he was old and has recently only rarely been seen in public, but many feel they have lost someone to look up to, an iconic figure, a David who took on the might of an American Goliath.
Ask about the criticisms of Castro, though, related to human rights and free speech, and they reply that this is a myth perpetrated by the US. Today, they want to talk about his achievements.
Mr Livingstone told Radio 4's Today programme: "Of course Fidel did things that were wrong. Initially he wasn't very good on lesbian and gay rights."
He stressed the health and education successes and even distribution of wealth under Castro, but said he believed over time Cuba would move towards "something like a traditional west European democracy".
Former Labour cabinet minister and anti-apartheid leader Peter Hain praised Cuban troops' defeat of South Africa's troops in Angola in 1988, as a "vital turning point in the struggle against apartheid".
But he added that Mr Castro was "criticised, rightly, for his attacks on human rights and curbs on free speech and his attitude towards gay Cubans which were indefensible".
This criticism was echoed by Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat leader.
Mr Farron said whilst he was undoubtedly a significant leader, "we must not overlook the appalling human rights abuses including brutal summary executions for which he was responsible".
Paul Webster was the UK's ambassador to Cuba from 2001-2004 and is now an international relations lecturer at Boston University. He described the leader as "a good reader of human nature" which "helped him consolidate power".
But he warned of uncertainty in the future.
"For many Cubans its almost impossible to conceive of a world, a Cuba, without Fidel. So change will have to be carefully managed," he said.


The jet-propelled pilot has found a friend to fly through the sky at 185 miles per hour with.

Media playback is unsupported on your device
13 May 2015 Last updated at 09:25 BST
Yves Rossy, who goes by the name 'Jetman', and French parachutist Vince Reffet soared together at speed, powered by jetpacks.
They put on a world-first aerial display above landmarks in Dubai, including Palm Island.
Yves built the specially developed flying suit back in 2006, using four jet-engines, which you might normally find on a small plane.
He has already used his jetpack prototype to cross the English Channel and fly over the Grand Canyon and Rio de Janeiro.
He said the display in Dunai "was the culmination of over 20 years of innovation".
'Jetman' added it "has resulted in achieving my personal dream to fly free, soaring through the sky."


Gabon, located on the west coast of Africa, is one of the region's more stable countries.

Since independence from France in 1960, Gabon has had just three presidents. Late President Omar Bongo ruled for more than four decades until his death in 2009.
During Omar Bongo's rule, Gabon maintained a close relationship with France under a system known as "Francafrique", receiving both political and military support in exchange for business favours.
But relations have cooled since his son Ali won a contested election in 2009 and French authorities launched a long-running corruption investigation into the family's assets.
Gabon is a major oil producer but a third of its population live in poverty, according to the World Bank.
Population 1.5 million
Area 267,667 sq km (103,347 sq miles)
Languages French, Bantu-group languages
Religion Christianity
Life expectancy 62 years (men), 64 years (women)
Currency CFA (Communaute Financiere Africaine) franc
President: Ali Ben Bongo Ondimba
Ali Bongo was sworn in for a second seven-year term in September 2016, after Gabon's constitutional court upheld his narrow victory in a bitterly disputed election.
Main rival Jean Ping described the court's decision as a "miscarriage of justice" amid opposition claims of vote fraud.
Mr Bongo took over from his late father Omar Bongo, who ruled Gabon for 41 years until his death in 2009.
He has pledged to address some of the issues that have fuelled anger among the country's 1.8 million people, like youth unemployment and over-reliance on falling oil revenues
But his presidency has been overshadowed by a long-running French investigation into allegations of embezzlement involving the Bongo family's assets.
Born in 1959 in Brazzaville, Congo where his father was serving in the armed forces, Mr Bongo was educated in France.
Gabon's main broadcast media are government-controlled.
In 2013, Reporters Without Borders acknowledged the authorities had made some progress in media freedom but said journalists still faced "police brutality and intimidation by officials". The watchdog called for an overhaul of the country's 2001 media law.
There were more than 670,000 internet users out of a population of 1.5 million by November 2015. (Internetworldstats.com).
Some key dates in Gabon's history:
14th-19th century - European settlers: Arrival of Portuguese slave traders, followed by French, Dutch and British.
1839 - France signs treaties with Gabonese coastal chiefs. Local Mpongwe ruler signs away sovereignty to the French.
1910 - Gabon becomes one of four territories making up French Equatorial Africa.
1958 - Gabon votes to become autonomous republic in the French Community.
1960 - Gabon declares independence.
1967 - Omar Bongo becomes president after the death Leon Mba.
1967-2009 - Omar Bongo dominates Gabonese politics, serving seven consecutive terms.
1990s - Multi-party political system introduced.
2003 - Constitution amended to repeal term limits, ensuring President Bongo holds the presidency for life.
2009 - Death of Omar Bongo, succeeded by his son Ali Ben Bongo Ondimba.


Britain will send military trainers to Jordan to help the country's air force in the fight against so-called Islamic State, the prime minister is to say.

Theresa May will set out measures to boost cooperation between the UK and the Gulf kingdom to tackle extremism on a visit to the capital Amman on Monday.
She will also discuss supporting the country with the influx of refugees fleeing the conflict in Syria.
The prime minister will be on a three-day trip to the Middle East.
Training will be carried out in Jordan and the UK to help its air force improve its capability to strike IS targets.
Mrs May is also visiting Saudi Arabia during her trip where the focus will be on strengthening trade and security ties as Britain prepares to leave the EU.
She said it was "clearly in the UK's security and prosperity interests" to support Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
"To tackle the threats we face from terrorism and from geopolitical instability, we must meet them at their source," she said ahead of the visit.
Mrs May said Jordan is on the frontline of "multiple regional crises" and working with the kingdom would help "keep British people safe".
"Likewise in Saudi Arabia: we must never forget that intelligence we have received in the past from that country has saved potentially hundreds of lives in the UK," she added.
Saudia Arabia is the UK's largest trading partner in the Middle East with goods and services exports totalling Â£6.6bn in 2015.
Britain supports and has helped arm the Saudi-led coalition fighting rebels in neighbouring Yemen.
The government has been criticised for its involvement with Saudi Arabia due to the deaths of civilians and a continuing famine in the region.
There has been pressure from MPs from across the political parties for a rethink of British policy.
Mrs May's visit to Saudi Arabia will reopen thorny questions over support for human rights, says the BBC's deputy political editor John Pienaar.


Almost a quarter of young Australians are living with "probable serious mental illness", according to a study.

The number of people aged 15-19 in psychological distress is higher than five years ago, said the report by a charity and a mental health group.
It also showed girls and indigenous Australians are more likely to suffer serious mental illness.
The report recommended more investment in evidence-based online support tools and improving mental health education.
Key areas of concern for young people include coping with stress, school and study problems, and depression, according to the Mission Australia and Black Dog Institute findings.
"Adolescence comes with its own set of challenges for young people," said Mission Australia chief executive Catherine Yeomans.
"But we are talking about an alarming number of young people facing serious mental illness, often in silence and without accessing the help they need."
Black Dog Institute director Helen Christensen said: "These findings confirm that mental illness is one of the biggest challenges of the 21st Century, and one that has to be tackled by the community, health services and families."
If you are feeling distressed and would like details of organisations in the UK which offer advice and support, go online to bbc.co.uk/actionline. In Australia, you can find similar information at Black Dog Institute and Lifeline.


Yahoo scanned its users' incoming emails for an unusual string of characters that had been linked to a terrorist organisation, according to a fresh report about the matter.

The New York Times says flagged messages were made available to the FBI, but the scans have now stopped.
It adds that the tech company adapted one of its spam and child-abuse-image filters to carry out the task.
The details build on an earlier report by the news agency Reuters.
Yahoo declined to add to its previous statements, in which it said Reuters' report was "misleading" and that it was "a law-abiding firm".
The California-based company also said the mail-scanning process outlined by Reuters "does not exist" on its systems, but did not explicitly address whether it had done so previously.
The New York Times says its report is based on interviews with two unnamed US government officials and a third anonymous person "familiar with" Yahoo.
It says that FBI investigators had learned that agents of a foreign terrorist body were using Yahoo's email service.
The bureau had managed to discover a "highly unique identifier or signature" used by the terrorists, it adds, but had been unable to indentify which accounts were being used, and so wanted Yahoo's aid.
It says that a judge at the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court was persuaded that the string of characters would have been used only by a foreign power, and so agreed to issue an order for Yahoo to comply.
The US law governing what can and cannot be scanned is the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (Fisa).
The original version, passed in 1978, set out strict conditions under which a special court could authorise electronic surveillance if suspects were believed to be engaged in espionage or planning an attack against the US on behalf of a foreign power.
Following the 9/11 attacks, the Bush administration secretly gave the NSA permission to bypass the court and carry out warrantless surveillance of al-Qaeda suspects, among others.
After this emerged in 2005, Congress voted to both offer immunity to the firms that had co-operated with the NSA's requests and to make amendments to Fisa.
A relaxation to the rules, introduced in 2008, meant officials could now obtain court orders without having to identify each individual target or detail the specific types of communications they intended to monitor so long as they convinced the court their purpose was to gather "foreign intelligence information".
In addition, they no longer had to confirm both the sender and receiver of the messages were outside the US, but only had to show it was "reasonable" to believe one of the parties was outside the country.
Yahoo had previously handed over data about its users to US cyber-spies - a fact it fought a legal battle to be able to reveal - but only after unsuccessfully appealing against the demand
But Reuters's article said that it had not challenged last year's order, a decision that allegedly disappointed some of its staff and led to the resignation of its chief information security officer.
A Fisa court order would restrict Yahoo from discussing the matter.
But the reports have raised privacy concerns and prompted US lawmakers and the EU's lead data protection commissioner to say they are looking into the allegations.
"This is a perfect example of why we need to reform [the Fisa Amendments Act]," said the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a digital rights campaign group.
"Absent such reform, congress must not reauthorise section 702 [of Fisa, which permits warrantless surveillance] when it expires at the end of next year."


Washington will remember the first visit of Saudi Arabia's King Salman for its royal extravagance.

The massive fleet of luxury cars for the hundreds of officials who accompanied the monarch. The full buy-out of the 222-room Four Seasons Hotel, reportedly outfitted with red carpets and gold-painted furniture for the occasion.
But the message the US and Saudi leaders wanted to send was one of a resilient relationship.
"Strong", "deep" and "abiding" were some of the words they used.
Rhetoric aside, it was clear the Saudis had decided to move beyond deep reservations about the Iran nuclear deal which have strained relations with the Obama administration in recent months.
At the height of tensions in May, the king refused President Obama's invitation to visit, although the Saudis insisted it wasn't a snub.
Since then, negotiations on the deal have concluded successfully and, perhaps recognising a fait accompli, Riyadh expressed cautious support.
But Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir now gave ringing endorsement. After consulting US officials and European allies for two months, the Saudis were satisfied, he said, that the agreement would effectively contain Iraq's nuclear programme.
They now had "one less problem to deal with in regards to Iran".
So President Obama got what he wanted: strong public support from a crucial ally, and at a critical time - just as a hostile Congress is preparing to vote on the deal.
This may help to silence those who blamed his foreign policy for losing the trust of key Middle East powers.
The focus can now turn to what the Kingdom considers the main problem - rolling back expanding Iranian intervention in the region.
Saudi Arabia and other Sunni Arab states feel threatened by Iran's support for Shia groups in Mid-East conflicts: Iraqi militias; the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria; the militant Hezbollah movement in Lebanon; and Houthi rebels in Yemen.
And the fear is that lifting sanctions on Iran according to the terms of the nuclear deal will embolden it further.
This was an abiding theme at a recent conference on US-Islamic relations in Doha. So much so that the senior White House official attending, Colin Kahl, felt compelled to clarify that although the US stood by its Gulf Arab partners, "this can't be a competition to the death with Iran".
The Obama administration insists it will help the Arabs counter Iran's "destabilising activities". It's offering to strengthen measures for facing unconventional threats from Iran's proxies, including cyber and maritime security, and increased counter terrorism co-operation.
Despite this emphasis on "more nimble 21st Century capabilities", conventional sales of military hardware haven't slowed. New Saudi purchases are in the process of being approved and President Obama has promised to fast track what's in the pipeline.
The Gulf Arab states are also looking for US guarantees of a "qualitative military edge over Iran", says James Smith, a former US ambassador to Saudi Arabia. It's not clear if King Salman got that.
Mr Obama and the Saudi monarch talked about two other areas of co-operation and disagreement as well.
In Yemen, the Americans are supporting the Saudi-backed campaign against Houthi rebels. But they are appalled at the resulting humanitarian disaster and high number of civilian casualties. The meeting ended with Saudi Arabia pledging to work towards opening Red Sea ports for aid deliveries under UN supervision.
In Syria, the two co-ordinate against Islamic State militants but disagree about how to approach the broader civil war - the US is uneasy about Saudi willingness to back certain hardline Islamist fighters, and the Saudis want Americans to directly target Mr Assad's government.
They're both participating in a new flurry of diplomatic activity aimed at reviving a political solution, but Mr al-Jubair said a breakthrough wasn't imminent.
These complex problems in the new chaos of the Middle East need a level of strategic dialogue not previously necessary, says Anthony Cordesman, a Middle East analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think-tank.
"Alliances with Arab states are going to have to adapt to events that none of us can control," he says, and that includes Iran's behaviour.
"If this agreement is the prelude to a more moderate Iran, the strains on the (Saudi) alliance will ease because the need to take tangible action will be reduced. But there's never going to be complete agreement on how to deal with Iran short of a major war."
Two very different countries will have to find ways to co-operate with each contingency and "that is not going to be easy".


Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn "has a heck of a lot of learn" but is learning, one of his shadow ministers has said.

Caerphilly MP Wayne David was speaking after controversy over Mr Corbyn's comments on a "shoot to kill' policy.
Mr David told BBC Wales Mr Corbyn "needs to think carefully before he makes such utterances" in future.
Mr David said he believed lethal force to be justifiable against an imminent threat to human life where there was no other alternative.
"I think that was the case in Paris and I think it's the justification internationally for the drone attacks that we've seen in the recent past," he said.
Mr David, shadow minister for political reform, justice and Scotland, continued: "I think that Jeremy is new in the post, there are representations being made to him.
"I amongst others made forceful representations to him after last night's PLP [Parliamentary Labour Party] meeting and I think he needs to think carefully before he makes such utterances, as he's thinking carefully about the utterance he has made."
Mr David said he welcomed the "frank and open discussions" Labour was now having under Mr Corbyn.
"It also means that he's very much on a learning curve, he's been a backbencher all his parliamentary career, he has a heck of a lot of learn in a very short time but I am pleased to say he is learning," he added.


A national campaign has been launched to encourage and support disabled people, along with their friends and families, to become more active.

The "Together We Will" campaign is designed to address the low numbers of disabled people who regularly take part in sport or physical activity.
A recent Sport England Active People Survey showed disabled people are half as likely to be active as non-disabled.
Will Mellor, whose disabled sister died in 2013, is championing the initiative.
The actor's sister had Marfan's syndrome, which affected her physically as well as impacting on her learning.
"She sadly passed away in 2013 but I recall fondly how much we loved being active as a family together," he said.
The campaign, which is organised by the English Federation of Disability Sport and eight National Disability Sports Organisations, also targets the friends and families of disabled people. It is also backed by Sport England.
It will share first-hand experiences from people with a variety of different impairments and health conditions so others can learn from their stories, helping them to to choose activities they can enjoy.
"I'm really looking forward to meeting our ambassadors and hearing their stories," added Mellor.
"We can all make a positive change and support more people to reap the benefits of an active lifestyle."
The campaign will run from July until September alongside a busy summer of sport, including the Olympics and Paralympics.
For more information about Together We Will, visit the EFDS campaign page.
If you want to find out more about disability sport, go here.


British Airways says all customers will be able to fly to their destinations on Tuesday 10 January and Wednesday 11 January, despite proposed industrial action by Unite union cabin crew.

The airline says all flights to and from London Gatwick and London City airports will operate normally.
The majority of flights to and from London Heathrow will operate as normal.
But BA said it would be merging a "very small number" of flights to and from Heathrow.
That means some customers will travel slightly earlier or later.
The airline said in a statement that customers affected were being contacted with the options available for them.
The dispute concerns about 4,000 staff - some 15% of BA's cabin crew - who have joined the airline since 2010 on "mixed fleet" contracts and who do not feel they are paid enough. About 2,900 of them are Unite members.
Earnings were advertised between £21,000 and £25,000, but the Unite union says that in reality, they start at just over £12,000 - plus £3 an hour flying pay.
BA cabin crew will start selling food from Marks and Spencer from next week as the airline introduces pay-as-you-go meals on its short-haul flights.
The Unite union said M&S store staff who sell this same food would be earning over £6,000 per year more on a full-time basis than the basic starting salary of a member of BA's "mixed fleet" cabin crew.
BA disputes these figures, and insists that full-time mixed fleet cabin crew do, in reality, earn above £21,000.
The strike reflects cabin crew's rejection of a new pay offer of 2% in the first year and 2.5% in years two and three - a rise that the union said would leave staff £20 a month better off after tax.
An earlier strike, planned for Christmas, was suspended after that offer was made, but members rejected it by 7-1.


Glenn Maxwell struck 96 from 83 balls to lead Australia to a series-clinching win over India in the third one-day international at the MCG in Melbourne.

With the home side chasing 296, Maxwell hit eight fours and three sixes but fell with one required, looking for the boundary that would give him a century.
India had posted 295-6 thanks to Virat Kohli's run-a-ball 117, while Aussie pace bowler John Hastings took 4-58.
Australia have taken an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.
The series concludes with games in Canberra (20 January) and Sydney (23 February) before the sides meet in three Twenty20 internationals.


One in six cancers - two million a year globally - are caused by largely treatable or preventable infections, new estimates suggest.

The
          Lancet Oncology
 review, which looked at incidence rates for 27 cancers in 184 countries, found four main infections are responsible.
These four - human papillomaviruses, Helicobacter pylori and hepatitis B and C viruses - account for 1.9m cases of cervical, gut and liver cancers.
Most cases are in the developing world.
The team from the International Agency for Research on Cancer in France, part of the World Health Organization, says more efforts are needed to tackle these avoidable cases and recognise cancer as a communicable disease.
'Preventable'
The proportion of cancers related to infection is about three times higher in parts of the developing world, such as east Asia, than in developed countries like the UK - 22.9% versus 7.4%, respectively.
BBC Health: In depth - cancer
Nearly a third of cases occur in people younger than 50 years.
Among women, cancer of the cervix accounted for about half of the infection-related cancers. In men, more than 80% were liver and gastric cancers.
Drs Catherine de Martel and Martyn Plummer, who led the research, said: "Infections with certain viruses, bacteria, and parasites are some of the biggest and preventable causes of cancer worldwide
"Application of existing public-health methods for infection prevention, such as vaccination, safer injection practice, or antimicrobial treatments, could have a substantial effect on the future burden of cancer worldwide."
Vaccines are available to protect against human papillomavirus (HPV) - which is linked to cancer of the cervix - and hepatitis B virus - an established cause of liver cancer.
And experts know that stomach cancer can be avoided by clearing the bacterial infection H. pylori from the gut using a course of antibiotics.
Commenting on the work, Dr Goodarz Danaei from Harvard School of Public Medicine in Boston, the US, said: "Since effective and relatively low-cost vaccines for HPV and HBV are available, increasing coverage should be a priority for health systems in high-burden countries."
Jessica Harris of Cancer Research UK said: "It's important that authorities worldwide make every effort to reduce the number of infection-related cancers, especially when many of these infections can be prevented. In the UK, infections are thought to be responsible for 3% of cancers, or around 9,700 cases each year.
"Vaccination against HPV, which causes cervical cancer, should go a long way towards reducing rates of this disease in the UK. But it's important that uptake of the vaccination remains high. At a global level, if the vaccine were available in more countries, many thousands more cases could be prevented."


Actress Halle Berry surprised film fans by appearing to drink half a pint of whiskey in one go on stage.

The Oscar winner was promoting her latest film, Kingsman: The Golden Circle, which features a fictional bourbon that serves as a business front for US secret agents.
When it was produced at the Comic-Con event, Berry was poured a large glass which she initially ignored.
But when a fan asked her a difficult question, she chose to drink it.
What was the tough question? She was asked whether her action spy film - which also stars Colin Firth and Taron Egerton - was more British than James Bond.
When Berry said she'd rather drink the whiskey than answer, panel moderator Jonathan Ross led a chant encouraging her to "chug" it.
"Oh I can you know, would you like to see that?" Berry replied and then downed the drink while grimacing and pretended to fall off her chair.
"Kingsman would like to remind you to drink responsibly," Ross said after, adding: "She's a professional, she can handle it."
Here's how it happened in pictures.
After the panel, Berry was asked if it was real bourbon she drank.
"Let that be a mystery to the world," she told Entertainment Tonight. "Never dare a girl like me to do anything, because I just take the challenge."
The sequel to Matthew Vaughn's 2014 film, about the recruitment of a young secret agent, was the first big film to kick off Comic-Con in the San Diego Convention Centre's famous Hall H.
The film's other stars including Egerton, Firth, Channing Tatum, Jeff Bridges and Pedro Pascal were on hand to talk about the movie and give fans a sneak peak of new footage.
As well as a longer trailer which was released just ahead of the panel, three clips were shown - the opening sequence, the introduction of Tatum as Statesman agent Tequila (the American equivalent to the Kingsmen), and the introduction of Julianne Moore as Poppy, the film's villain.
The stars also revealed more about their characters, with Tatum saying he "was begging" to have a part in the sequel as he was a fan of the franchise.
Berry said her character, Ginger Ale, was "kind of the techy, brain, nerdy character", while Firth kept tight-lipped about his role.
Fans of Kingsmen will know the Oscar winner didn't make it to the end of the first film alive, although he appears in the sequel.
"It's all a mystery to me, really. I mean, I'm in the trailer! I seem to do a lot of shaving and, that's really all I can say," he said.
The film is released in cinemas in September.
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A website awarded £250,000 to "unleash the wealth of wisdom" of people in Torfaen has been criticised after registering 340 users in two years - a cost of over £700 per user - before going offline.

The Big Lottery fund in Wales said the Wisdom Bank site was funded to share knowledge, and had "met its targets".
After its funding ended last year, Torfaen council took it over.
But the site is currently down because of a "temporary technical issue".
Mike Harris, a councillor on the authority's audit committee, said continued public funding of the site would be like "flogging a dead horse".
Big Lottery said in a statement the project aimed to "harness the experience and skills of people in the 45 to 65 age group for the wider benefit of the community of Torfaen".
"This will be achieved through the development of a web-based Wisdom Bank providing online, interactive, one-to-one advice and mentoring in a secure private environment.
"Initial support will be targeted at entrepreneurship, employment support for young people who are NEET (not in employment, education or training), care leavers, support for carers and for people with long-term health conditions."
The project aimed to recruit 60 mentors and support 500 individuals.
But despite claims it has "met targets", Torfaen council said it currently has 340 users.
Mr Harris said no more public money should be spent on the site unless it can prove its worth.
"Big Lottery would have looked at the business plan and you have to question their judgement with such a risk," he said.
"£250,000 to use a web portal to engage with an audience of 340 doesn't seem good value for me, when you can actually engage with them through social media such as Facebook.
"It's an embarrassment if it continues - I think serious questions need to be asked because now they'll be using taxpayers money to continue with a project.
"If it's a dead horse I'm afraid there are far more worthy causes that money needs to be spent on."
A Torfaen council spokesperson said: "Torfaen Public Service Board sees the Wisdom Bank as an innovative digital platform for engaging with the local community...the council is now overseeing further development of the platform.
"There is currently a technical issue with the site which will be fixed as soon as possible."
The Wisdom Bank's Facebook and Twitter account have not been updated since last summer.


England boss Roy Hodgson will not be given a new deal until after Euro 2016 to avoid the "unsavoury position" that emerged under Italian Fabio Capello, the Football Association has said.

Capello, then the England manager, signed a new contract prior to the 2010 World Cup, but England lost to Germany in the second round.
"Roy is very comfortable with the situation," said FA chief Martin Glenn.
Hodgson's current contract runs out after Euro 2016.
In July, Glenn said Hodgson would be the last person to "ask for a contract extension" if he did not do well.
Under Hodgson England have won all eight games in their qualifying group for the tournament in France next year. At the 2014 World Cup, however, they went out in the group stage without winning a game.
Speaking at the Soccerex conference in Manchester, Glenn also talked about England's image within the global game.
"The FA, being football's first governing body, is 'the ultimate expression of arrogance'," he said.
"What's seen to be the case, we get interested in the international game when it suits our purposes; to host a World Cup.
"We are perceived as arrogant. I don't think we necessarily are.''


Ever since the remains of Richard III were first found under a Leicester car park in 2012, the city has enjoyed a feel-good factor that culminated this year with Leicester City completing a "fairytale" Premier League title win.

But with the Foxes now languishing near the foot of the table and one hotelier claiming the impact of Richard III is slowly wearing off, is the journey over?
Or is it a case of what next?
Even the most upbeat of Leicester fans would probably find it difficult to be positive about their Premier League title defence as the stats make for pretty grim reading - played 19, won five, drawn five and lost nine.
To put that in some context, City lost just three times in the league last season.
However, Claudio Ranieri's side are through to the last 16 of the Champions League, where they will meet Sevilla for a place in the quarter finals.
And after that, only the small matter of European giants such as Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Barcelona would stand in the way of European glory...
Season ticket holder Sam Webster remains quietly confident, but does not think the Foxes can go all the way in Europe.
He said: "We are an unknown entity, and the bigger teams are definitely underestimating us like the big fish did in the Premier League last season.
"Getting to the semis would be remarkable. However, the drastic difference between the Champions League and Premier League form is unacceptable."
But even if the Foxes are not quite living up to expectations on the pitch, Richard III has helped keep the city buzzing.
Amy Gray, head of tourism affairs at VisitBritain, said: "Money can't buy the publicity - the sort of publicity Leicester has got.
"We saw a 17% increase in international visitors to the East Midlands for April to June.
"What we've seen in Leicester is a fantastic heritage story and a fantastic sports story - and we know both are a fantastic draw to international visitors."
Source: Leicester Cathedral
Eloic Montagnier, general manager of Leicester's Belmont Hotel, believes interest in other Leicester destinations - such as the National Space Centre after Tim Peake's expedition - has also contributed to the city's success.
He said: "We have done over 80% [occupancy] for the last year.
"It was fantastic in November, with 85% occupancy for the month - it was 65% two years ago.
"I think this is a great opportunity to grow the city and I think it will keep going - I don't see the success dropping off any time soon.
"Football has brought a lot of people in who may never have even considered coming to Leicester."
But others aren't quite so bullish about the future.
Vito Ferro's San Carlo restaurant has become something of a tourist hotspot after it held a celebratory meal for the Leicester City players the day after the title was won.
Despite an initial surge in bookings, Mr Ferro believes it will wear off eventually.
"It is too soon to say [whether things will quieten down] because they are in the Champions League," he said.
"But I would say, yes, things are eventually going to quieten down unless something else happens."
So, as Leicester looks ahead to 2017, will good things come in threes with Champions League glory for the Foxes?
Or will the city simply have to accept that "two out of three ain't bad"?
Source: Ernst and Young


Insurance claims after the deadly Tianjin blast could far exceed official estimates, Fitch ratings agency has warned.

At least 114 people died and some 700 were injured in last week's blast.
Residents are demanding compensation and firms have seen their assets damaged and production disrupted.
Thousands had to evacuate their homes after toxic chemicals were detected in the air following the blasts at the world's tenth-busiest port.
Based on official Chinese media reports, bank Credit Suisse estimates the losses could amount to $1-1.5bn (Â£640-957m).
Ratings agency Fitch though warned the bill could be much higher.
"Claims from the blasts are likely to undermine the financial performance of some regional players and those property and casualty insurers with high risk accumulation in the affected areas," Fitch said.
Local Chinese insurers are expected to bear the brunt of the costs.
Investigations into the cause of the blast are still ongoing and the damage is still being assessed.
Aside from the actual damage, a number of factories near the blast site have halted operations leading to losses that could also be compensated by insurers.
Japanese car maker Toyota said more than half its China production capacity would be affected at least through Wednesday.
The company said it had suspended all three production lines at its plant near Tianjin, which can produce 530,000 vehicles a year.
The car maker also said it could divert shipments to the ports of Shanghai and Dalian in response to the severe logistical problems resulting from the Tianjin damage.
Thousands of imported Volkswagen, Toyota, Hyundai and Renault cars, parked near the blast site were damaged in the explosion.
Operations of electronics company Panasonic, logistics firm Singamas Container Holdings and of US maker of agricultural machinery Deere & Co. have also been disrupted.
More on the deadly Tianjin blast:
China explosions: Doubts raised over chemical licences
Potent chemical mix behind blasts
What we know about explosions
The questions being asked by Chinese citizens
'Hero' firefighters hailed
'Like the end of the world': Residents' stories


Togo honoured former coach Stephen Keshi, who died in June, by playing a tribute match on Sunday.

Nigerian Keshi, who died suddenly aged 54, was appointed head coach of Togo three times between 2004 and 2011.
The match in Lome was played between the current Togo national side and 'Team Keshi', made up of players who were part of his 2006 squad.
"Keshi was like a big brother for me," said striker Emmanuel Adebayor, who played for Team Keshi.
"He was somebody that I respected a lot and I have to give him a lot of credit because when he joined the Togolese national team he believed in me.
"He was for the first time looking into my eyes and told me how good I was and how good I could become.
"I just listened to his advice because he was a former footballer. Listening to his advice helped me a lot and today I am where I am because of that of that.
"May his soul rest in a perfect peace and let's us keep on remembering him in our prayers."
Keshi will be most widely remembered for his feats with Nigeria, both as an Africa Cup of Nations-winning player and coach.
But he also will be associated deeply with Togo, who gave him his first coaching job - and he pulled off a remarkable achievement to qualify them for the 2006 World Cup finals, ahead of Senegal and Zambia.
However, he was sacked by Togo just a few months before the tournament in Germany.
Keshi returned for two more spells  - appointed in 2007 and 2001 - but was unable to repeat his earlier success with the Hawks.
More than 20,000 fans were in attendance at the Ominsports stadium in Lome to watch the game, which finished 6-2 to the current Togo national side.
After the match. Adebayor told the crowd: "I would like to pay tribute to him and I hope that the family he left behind will find the needed faith and strength to overcome this period."
Abalo Dosseh, deputy coach and former captain of Togo, told BBC Sport: "It is an honour for me to stand on this pitch in remembrance of Big Boss. He has done a lot for Togolese football and the entire continent.
"I always remember the day I asked to captain the team for the first time and we were also lucky to make the same year to the World Cup.
"All the former players and others who are still playing have come to pay tribute to him."
Toglose former player Olufade Adekambi, who also played alongside Keshi, added: "We thank God that  he did many good things for Togo. We are still mourning him  because he was like a big brother, a coach and a big man."


Dating website OKCupid has sought to deter users from accessing its site via browser Mozilla Firefox.

The site says the move was in response to new Mozilla chief executive Brendan Eich's previous opposition to gay marriage in the US state of California.
Users are directed to use other internet browsers, such as Chrome.
Mozilla said OKCupid had not contacted it to confirm facts, and that: "Mozilla supports equality for all, including marriage equality for LGBT couples."
Visitors to OKCupid's website using Mozilla's free Firefox browser see a message that reads: "Mozilla's new CEO, Brendan Eich, is an opponent of equal rights for gay couples.
"We would therefore prefer that our users not use Mozilla software to access OKCupid."
However, it is still possible to access OKCupid's site via Firefox, if users click through the message.
Ok Cupid is owned by media conglomerate IAC/InterActive Corp, which owns 50 brands across 40 countries.
These include other major dating sites, like Match.com, as well as news website the Daily Beast and web properties like Dictionary.com.
Mr Eich, who is the inventor of JavaScript, was appointed to lead the open-source browser firm on 24 March.
He is listed publicly as having donated to a campaign in support of California's Proposition 8 campaign in 2008, which had sought to ban gay marriage in the western US state.
Although it was initially passed, it was later overturned by a district court judge in 2010.
After Mr Eich's appointment was announced, supporters of same-sex marriage in the US, including many Mozilla employees, expressed unease at the decision.
Mozilla's head of education, Christie Koehler, who is gay, wrote on her blog: "It's hard for me to think of a scenario where someone could donate to that campaign without feeling that queer folks are less deserving of basic rights."
However, she added that while she was personally disappointed, she said she did not think it would affect her work at Mozilla.
Mr Eich responded in a post, saying that he remained committed to openness in the work place and offering assurances that Mozilla would not change certain policies, like health insurance for the partners of gay employees.
"I am committed to ensuring that Mozilla is, and will remain, a place that includes and supports everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, age, race, ethnicity, economic status, or religion," he wrote.