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| President Obama can 'bypass Congress' over Iraq | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| US President Barack Obama had told Congressional leaders he does not need lawmakers' approval for any action in Iraq, the top Senate Republican says. | US President Barack Obama had told Congressional leaders he does not need lawmakers' approval for any action in Iraq, the top Senate Republican says. |
| Senator Mitch Mc McConnell was speaking after a meeting between the president and senior members of Congress. | Senator Mitch Mc McConnell was speaking after a meeting between the president and senior members of Congress. |
| Iraq has asked for US air strikes against advancing Sunni militants. | Iraq has asked for US air strikes against advancing Sunni militants. |
| Meanwhile US Vice-President Biden and Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki discussed possible "additional measures" by the US to assist Iraqi forces. | Meanwhile US Vice-President Biden and Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki discussed possible "additional measures" by the US to assist Iraqi forces. |
| The two men considered ways "to roll back the terrorists' advances", a White House statement said. | The two men considered ways "to roll back the terrorists' advances", a White House statement said. |
| On Wednesday Mr Obama met Congressional leaders at the White House to discuss the US response to recent advances by ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant). | On Wednesday Mr Obama met Congressional leaders at the White House to discuss the US response to recent advances by ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant). |
| Speaking afterwards, Mr McConnell said the president had "indicated he didn't feel he had any need for authority from us for steps that he might take". | Speaking afterwards, Mr McConnell said the president had "indicated he didn't feel he had any need for authority from us for steps that he might take". |
| Correspondents say the White House has so far avoided the thorny question as to whether it needs Congressional authority for any military action in Iraq. | Correspondents say the White House has so far avoided the thorny question as to whether it needs Congressional authority for any military action in Iraq. |
| Last year the president did not seek consent for possible attacks against Syria, although he abandoned such a move once it became clear that Congress would not support it. | Last year the president did not seek consent for possible attacks against Syria, although he abandoned such a move once it became clear that Congress would not support it. |
| Earlier this month a number of lawmakers condemned the lack of congressional consultation over the release of army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl from the Taliban in Afghanistan in exchange for five Guantanamo Bay detainees. | Earlier this month a number of lawmakers condemned the lack of congressional consultation over the release of army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl from the Taliban in Afghanistan in exchange for five Guantanamo Bay detainees. |
| Administration officials say the president may be able to act unilaterally in Iraq because its government has requested US air strikes against ISIS militants who have seized several key cities over the past week. | Administration officials say the president may be able to act unilaterally in Iraq because its government has requested US air strikes against ISIS militants who have seized several key cities over the past week. |
| ISIS and their Sunni Muslim allies are also reported to be advancing in Diyala and Salahuddin provinces after they overran Iraq's second city, Mosul, last week. | ISIS and their Sunni Muslim allies are also reported to be advancing in Diyala and Salahuddin provinces after they overran Iraq's second city, Mosul, last week. |
| Analysis: Nyck Bryant, BBC News, Washington | |
| The White House has been reiterating its view that the Iraq crisis is not primarily a military challenge but instead requires a political solution. | |
| To that end, Vice-President Joe Biden telephoned Iraqi Prime minister Nouri Maliki, one of his main Sunni rivals and also a Kurdish leader to press for a new government of national unity. Republican Senator John McCain has gone further - and called on Mr Maliki to step down. | |
| Some senior Democrats have echoed that call, and the Wall Street Journal is reporting that the Obama administration would also prefer to see the removal of a prime minister who it believes has heightened sectarian tensions and helped give rise to ISIS. | |
| Unquestionably, the White House is intensifying its efforts to make the new Iraqi government look more like Iraq. | |
| They have also launched an assault on Iraq's biggest oil refinery at Baiji, north of Baghdad. | They have also launched an assault on Iraq's biggest oil refinery at Baiji, north of Baghdad. |
| The administration has not officially responded to Iraq's request for air support in its response to the offensive. | The administration has not officially responded to Iraq's request for air support in its response to the offensive. |
| BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says Mr Obama has a wide range of options, from air strikes to providing extra training, but that the US will - as a minimum - send in surveillance drones. | BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says Mr Obama has a wide range of options, from air strikes to providing extra training, but that the US will - as a minimum - send in surveillance drones. |
| Ahead of Wednesday's meeting, Senate leader Harry Reid, a Democrat, said he did not "support in any way" getting American troops involved in the Iraqi "civil war". | Ahead of Wednesday's meeting, Senate leader Harry Reid, a Democrat, said he did not "support in any way" getting American troops involved in the Iraqi "civil war". |
| The administration itself has shown signs of frustration with Mr Maliki - who has long been accused of favouring the country's Shia Muslim majority and alienating Sunnis. | The administration itself has shown signs of frustration with Mr Maliki - who has long been accused of favouring the country's Shia Muslim majority and alienating Sunnis. |
| On Wednesday Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel told a congressional hearing: "This current government in Iraq has never fulfilled the commitments it made to bring a unity government together with the Sunnis, the Kurds, and the Shia." | On Wednesday Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel told a congressional hearing: "This current government in Iraq has never fulfilled the commitments it made to bring a unity government together with the Sunnis, the Kurds, and the Shia." |
| 'Danger to unity' | 'Danger to unity' |
| Hundreds of people have been killed since the start of the militant offensive, many of them believed to be captured soldiers publicly shot by ISIS-led firing squads. | Hundreds of people have been killed since the start of the militant offensive, many of them believed to be captured soldiers publicly shot by ISIS-led firing squads. |
| Some 500,000 people have been internally displaced, according to UN estimates. | Some 500,000 people have been internally displaced, according to UN estimates. |
| In an interview with the BBC, the representative of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the country's Shia spiritual leader, said warned against "a real danger which threatens Iraq and its unity". | In an interview with the BBC, the representative of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the country's Shia spiritual leader, said warned against "a real danger which threatens Iraq and its unity". |
| Speaking to BBC world affairs editor John Simpson, Sheikh Abdul Mahdi Karbalai said the response should be "a stance which is adopted by people from all sects". | Speaking to BBC world affairs editor John Simpson, Sheikh Abdul Mahdi Karbalai said the response should be "a stance which is adopted by people from all sects". |
| Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Tehran would not "spare any effort" to defend Shia holy shrines in Iraq against "mercenaries, murderers and terrorists". | Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Tehran would not "spare any effort" to defend Shia holy shrines in Iraq against "mercenaries, murderers and terrorists". |
| ISIS in Iraq | ISIS in Iraq |
| ISIS grew out of an al-Qaeda-linked organisation in Iraq | ISIS grew out of an al-Qaeda-linked organisation in Iraq |
| Iraq 'massacre' photos: What we know | Iraq 'massacre' photos: What we know |