This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/iraq-crisis-david-cameron-to-meet-security-advisors-for-talks-on-possible-british-role-in-fight-against-isis-9545188.html
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Iraq crisis: David Cameron to meet security advisors for talks on possible British role in fight against Isis | Iraq crisis: David Cameron to meet security advisors for talks on possible British role in fight against Isis |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| David Cameron is to meet with his most senior security advisers today to discuss Britain’s role in the ongoing crisis in Iraq. | David Cameron is to meet with his most senior security advisers today to discuss Britain’s role in the ongoing crisis in Iraq. |
| The advance of Sunni militants in the country under the banner of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isis) has seen several key cities captured and battle lines drawn up less than 60 minutes’ drive from the capital Baghdad. | The advance of Sunni militants in the country under the banner of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isis) has seen several key cities captured and battle lines drawn up less than 60 minutes’ drive from the capital Baghdad. |
| While the US has deployed a number of warships to the Persian Gulf and sent some 275 soldiers to bolster security at its own assets in Iraq, both it and Britain are yet to come to a decision over the form and scope of any possible Western intervention. | While the US has deployed a number of warships to the Persian Gulf and sent some 275 soldiers to bolster security at its own assets in Iraq, both it and Britain are yet to come to a decision over the form and scope of any possible Western intervention. |
| The Prime Minister will chair a meeting of the National Security Council, in discussions that follow on from Foreign Secretary William Hague’s two statements to the Commons on Iraq this week. | The Prime Minister will chair a meeting of the National Security Council, in discussions that follow on from Foreign Secretary William Hague’s two statements to the Commons on Iraq this week. |
| Mr Cameron yesterday warned that the insurgencies led by religious extremists and Syria and now in Iraq were “the most serious threat to Britain's security that there is today”. | Mr Cameron yesterday warned that the insurgencies led by religious extremists and Syria and now in Iraq were “the most serious threat to Britain's security that there is today”. |
| “The number of foreign fighters in that area, the number of foreign fighters including those from the UK who could try to return to the UK this is a real threat to our country,” he said during a joint press conference with Chinese premier Li Keqiang. | “The number of foreign fighters in that area, the number of foreign fighters including those from the UK who could try to return to the UK this is a real threat to our country,” he said during a joint press conference with Chinese premier Li Keqiang. |
| He added: “We will do absolutely everything we can to keep our people safe. That means stopping people from going, it means arresting people who are involved in plots, it means focusing our security, our policing, our intelligence effort on to that area of the world, on to those people.” | He added: “We will do absolutely everything we can to keep our people safe. That means stopping people from going, it means arresting people who are involved in plots, it means focusing our security, our policing, our intelligence effort on to that area of the world, on to those people.” |
| Yesterday Mr Hague announced that the “circumstances are right” to reopen the British embassy in Iran, approaching three years since it was closed when protesters stormed the building and ransacked offices. | Yesterday Mr Hague announced that the “circumstances are right” to reopen the British embassy in Iran, approaching three years since it was closed when protesters stormed the building and ransacked offices. |
| But while improved relations with Tehran have been discussed publicly by both the US and UK in the two weeks since Isis’s lightening campaign in Iraq began, the Prime Minister insisted that the desire to restore diplomatic links went beyond a simple plea for help dealing with the militants. | But while improved relations with Tehran have been discussed publicly by both the US and UK in the two weeks since Isis’s lightening campaign in Iraq began, the Prime Minister insisted that the desire to restore diplomatic links went beyond a simple plea for help dealing with the militants. |
| The Foreign Secretary said Iran was “an important country in a volatile region” and said that it was important for Britain to maintain embassies all over the world “even under difficult conditions”. | |
| “There has never been any doubt in my mind that we should have an embassy in Tehran if the circumstances allowed,” Mr Hague said. | “There has never been any doubt in my mind that we should have an embassy in Tehran if the circumstances allowed,” Mr Hague said. |
| He did not give a precise date for the embassy to reopen, saying there would be a “small initial presence” as soon as “practical arrangements have been made”. | He did not give a precise date for the embassy to reopen, saying there would be a “small initial presence” as soon as “practical arrangements have been made”. |