Iraq crisis: Baiji refinery ‘falls’ as Kerry visits Irbil – live updates / WATCH KERRY SPEECH IN IRBIL
Live Kerry to urge Kurds to help prevent break up of Iraq / Matthew Weaver – THE GUARDIAN – The US secretary of state pledges support for Iraq’s security forces as they battle against Islamist insurgents Isis. John Kerry claims Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has committed to forming a new government in Iraq from 1 July. It comes after Barack Obama offered up 300 American advisers to help co-ordinate the fight. Click for Video: John Kerry has insisted that Kurdish leaders are backing his efforts to form a new government in Baghdad. -In an interview for CNN after his meetings in Irbil, Kerry played down President Barzani’s remark that Iraq is facing a “new reality”. Barzani’s observation is being seen as a rejection of the US secretary of state’s call for unity.
But Kerry said:Even President Barzani today, who is opposed to the prime minister [Nouri al-Maliki] made it clear that he wants to participate in the process that he wants to help chose the next government. And other leaders that I met with were all engaged and energised and ready to go to bat for a new governance. So while he says there’s a new reality. The new reality is that they are under attack from Isil and they have realised that they cannot continue with this sectarian division.
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It wasn’t just the body language that was different in Ibril and Baghdad. There was no need for body armour in the Kurdish region, notes Kurdish campaigner Abdulrahman Hamdi.