Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has urged Asia Pacific nations to fight jihadist groups, saying Daesh has global ambitions, BBC news reported.

At a conference in Sydney on countering terrorist propaganda, he said Daesh was a death cult with far-reaching tentacles.

Australia says more than 100 of its citizens are fighting with militant jihadist groups in Syria and Iraq.

Last year, Australia raised its threat level to high and has conducted a series of counter-terrorism raids.

Mr Abbotts remarks come after US President Barack Obama approved sending up to 450 more military personnel to Iraq to train forces fighting Daesh.