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Iraq crisis: Arming Kurds on EU agenda in Brussels Iraq crisis: Arming Kurds on EU agenda in Brussels
(35 minutes later)
EU foreign ministers are to discuss plans to arm Iraq's Kurds against an extremist insurgency in an emergency meeting in Brussels on Friday morning. EU foreign ministers are holding an emergency meeting in Brussels on Friday to discuss plans to arm Iraq's Kurds against an extremist insurgency.
France and the US have already begun to supply weapons to the Kurds, whose Peshmerga fighters are trying to halt an advance by Islamic State militants.France and the US have already begun to supply weapons to the Kurds, whose Peshmerga fighters are trying to halt an advance by Islamic State militants.
On Thursday, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki resigned and conceded power to Haider al-Abadi, Iraq's deputy speaker.On Thursday, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki resigned and conceded power to Haider al-Abadi, Iraq's deputy speaker.
Over a million Iraqis remain displaced from their homes, the UN says.Over a million Iraqis remain displaced from their homes, the UN says.
The UN has declared the situation in the country a "level three emergency", its highest level of humanitarian crisis.The UN has declared the situation in the country a "level three emergency", its highest level of humanitarian crisis.
A UN Security Council meeting on Friday is expected to approve a resolution threatening sanctions against any country which finances or supports IS.A UN Security Council meeting on Friday is expected to approve a resolution threatening sanctions against any country which finances or supports IS.
'People dying''People dying'
The emergency EU meeting was called for by France, whose foreign minister Laurent Fabius criticised the EU for inaction on Iraq.The emergency EU meeting was called for by France, whose foreign minister Laurent Fabius criticised the EU for inaction on Iraq.
"When there are people dying... you have to come back from your holidays" he told EU foreign policy chief Baroness (Catherine) Ashton in a letter earlier this week."When there are people dying... you have to come back from your holidays" he told EU foreign policy chief Baroness (Catherine) Ashton in a letter earlier this week.
About 20 ministers will discuss EU-wide approval to ship arms to the Kurds and the Iraqi army.About 20 ministers will discuss EU-wide approval to ship arms to the Kurds and the Iraqi army.
Germany has already promised to provide nonlethal military aid to Iraq's army, while the UK said on Thursday it would "favourably consider" any request for arms from the Kurds. Military aid pledges
Czech Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek said his government was working "on the preparation of military supplies".
The Czech Republic has significant stockpiles of Soviet arms of the same type as those currently used by Kurdish fighters.
The Netherlands said on Thursday that it would also consider helping arm the both Kurdish and Iraqi troops.
"The Cabinet understands and supports the considerations of its partners in arming the regional Kurdish army with support of the Iraqi government" it said.
Several EU countries, as well as the US, have made drops of aid in northern Iraq in the past week.Several EU countries, as well as the US, have made drops of aid in northern Iraq in the past week.
The US has also engaged in limited airstrikes against IS targets.The US has also engaged in limited airstrikes against IS targets.
Maliki resignsMaliki resigns
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki's resignation on Thursday evening was welcomed by the UN and US.Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki's resignation on Thursday evening was welcomed by the UN and US.
The resignation brought an end to eight years of often divisive rule, when Mr Maliki's government was accused of favouring the Shia majority.The resignation brought an end to eight years of often divisive rule, when Mr Maliki's government was accused of favouring the Shia majority.
Prime-minister designate Haider al-Abadi is one of Iraq's most senior politicians, having held several high-profile posts since returning from exile in 2003.Prime-minister designate Haider al-Abadi is one of Iraq's most senior politicians, having held several high-profile posts since returning from exile in 2003.
He is regarded by some as a moderate within Mr Maliki's Dawa party, and has shown more of a willingness to compromise than his predecessor.He is regarded by some as a moderate within Mr Maliki's Dawa party, and has shown more of a willingness to compromise than his predecessor.
The change in government comes as the Iraqi army proved unable to stop Islamist fighters from seizing vast areas in northern Iraq.The change in government comes as the Iraqi army proved unable to stop Islamist fighters from seizing vast areas in northern Iraq.
The offensive by the self-styled Islamic State, a Sunni Muslim jihadist group formerly known as Isis, has triggered a security and humanitarian crisis, driving an estimated 1.2 million Iraqis from their homes.The offensive by the self-styled Islamic State, a Sunni Muslim jihadist group formerly known as Isis, has triggered a security and humanitarian crisis, driving an estimated 1.2 million Iraqis from their homes.
Thousands of Iraqis from the Yazidi religious minority reached camps inside the Kurdish region, most with no possessions but the clothes on their backs, AFP news agency reports from Dohuk.Thousands of Iraqis from the Yazidi religious minority reached camps inside the Kurdish region, most with no possessions but the clothes on their backs, AFP news agency reports from Dohuk.
Conditions in the camps are spartan, with one man, Khodr Hussein, saying: "We went from hunger in Sinjar to hunger in this camp."Conditions in the camps are spartan, with one man, Khodr Hussein, saying: "We went from hunger in Sinjar to hunger in this camp."