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Iraq crisis: US to send 'military advisers' Iraq crisis: US to send 'military advisers'
(about 9 hours later)
President Barack Obama says the US will send 300 military advisers to Iraq to help fight Islamist-led insurgents.President Barack Obama says the US will send 300 military advisers to Iraq to help fight Islamist-led insurgents.
Mr Obama said the US was prepared for "targeted and precise military action, if and when... the situation on the ground requires it", but added that US troops would not fight in Iraq. Mr Obama said the US was prepared for "targeted and precise military action, if and when" required, but added that US troops would not fight in Iraq.
He went on to insist there was "no military solution" and urged the Shia-led Iraqi government to be "inclusive". He insisted there was "no military solution" and urged the Shia-led Iraqi government to be "inclusive".
Iraq has asked the US for air strikes against the Sunni militants. US Secretary of State Kerry is expected to travel to Iraq soon to press for a more representative cabinet.
The gunmen - spearheaded by the jihadist Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) - have made major territorial gains in the past 10 days. Iraq has asked the US for air strikes against the Sunni militants - spearheaded by the jihadist Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) - who have made major territorial gains in the past 10 days.
Mr Obama said it was not the US's place to choose Iraq's leaders. By Nick Bryant, BBC news, Washington
Al-Qaeda in 2014: Where does it stand? Drawn from America's special forces, the military advisers will set up joint command centres with the Iraqi military in Baghdad and in the north. But they will also go out into the field.
By Frank Gardner, BBC security correspondent Senior administration officials have said that they are not at the stage of preparing air strikes, adding that they will be discreet and targeted if they come. They have also indicated that ISIS militants could come under American fire over the border in Syria.
There is little left of the original al-Qaeda organisation as founded in 1989 by Abdullah Azzam and Osama Bin Laden in the wake of the Soviet Union's withdrawal from Afghanistan. Bin Laden himself was tracked down and killed in Pakistan in 2011. At present the use of American air power is not being made conditional on Prime Minister Nouri Maliki stepping down, but clearly he has lost Washington's confidence.
What is left of "Core al-Qaeda", as it is known, is believed to be based in Pakistan's tribal region after fleeing Afghanistan in 2001. US Secretary of State John Kerry is expected to travel to Iraq as part of a wider diplomatic mission to the Middle East and North Africa. His main aim it seems will be to press for the formation of a new more inclusive government.
But the world's counter-terrorism officials have little cause to celebrate. Mr Obama said it was not the US's place to choose Iraq's leaders but warned:
Rather than eliminating al-Qaeda, they have caused it to atomise and disperse, morphing into several different organisations around the Middle East, Africa and Asia, with large numbers of jihadist sympathisers in Europe. "Only leaders with an inclusive agenda are going to be able to truly bring the Iraqi people together."
That may be seen as a veiled criticism of Shia Prime Minister Nouri Maliki, who has been accused of anti-Sunni policies which have helped inflame unrest, correspondents say. These comments are seen as a veiled criticism of Prime Minister Nouri Maliki, who has been accused of anti-Sunni policies which have helped inflame unrest, correspondents say.
"The United States will not pursue military actions that support one sect inside of Iraq at the expense of another," Mr Obama said."The United States will not pursue military actions that support one sect inside of Iraq at the expense of another," Mr Obama said.
In addition to sending advisers, Mr Obama said that the US would be increasing intelligence efforts and setting up "joint operation centres in Baghdad and northern Iraq, to share intelligence and co-ordinate planning".In addition to sending advisers, Mr Obama said that the US would be increasing intelligence efforts and setting up "joint operation centres in Baghdad and northern Iraq, to share intelligence and co-ordinate planning".
Thousands of Shias from southern Iraq have volunteered to help the Iraqi army. Thousands of Shia from southern Iraq have volunteered to help the Iraqi army.
Shia militiamen have been sent to assist in the defence of the capital of Diyala province, which has effectively become a front line, and the nearby city of Samarra, site of a major Shia shrine. Shia militiamen have been sent to assist in the defence of the capital of Diyala province, which has effectively become a frontline, and the nearby city of Samarra, site of a major Shia shrine.
On Wednesday, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen Martin Dempsey, warned that the US military still lacked sufficient intelligence to take action. He told a congressional hearing that pilots would have difficulty knowing who they were attacking from the air.On Wednesday, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen Martin Dempsey, warned that the US military still lacked sufficient intelligence to take action. He told a congressional hearing that pilots would have difficulty knowing who they were attacking from the air.
Gen Dempsey went on to say there was "very little that could have been done to overcome the degree to which the government of Iraq has failed its people. That is what has caused this problem".
Iraq's sectarian splitIraq's sectarian split
Sunnis and Shias: What's the story?Sunnis and Shias: What's the story?
Panic buying fuelPanic buying fuel
Mr Obama's statement came after a day in which fighting continued for control of the country's biggest oil refinery.Mr Obama's statement came after a day in which fighting continued for control of the country's biggest oil refinery.
Officials insisted security forces were "in full control" of the Baiji refinery, about 200km (130 miles) north of the capital Baghdad. Officials insisted security forces were "in full control" of the Baiji refinery, about 200km (130 miles) north of the capital Baghdad. But militants led by ISIS have surrounded the facility.
But militants led by ISIS have surrounded the facility.
For several days, production has been halted at Baiji, which supplies much of the country's domestic fuel.For several days, production has been halted at Baiji, which supplies much of the country's domestic fuel.
The shutdown has sparked panic buying in northern regions, with long queues at petrol stations in Iraqi Kurdistan, even thought there are not yet any real shortages, the BBC's Jim Muir reports from Irbil. The shutdown has sparked panic buying in northern regions, with long queues at petrol stations in Iraqi Kurdistan, the BBC's Jim Muir reports from Irbil.
Hostilities were also reported elsewhere in the north and west of the country on Thursday, including around the airport of the strategic town of Tal Afar.
Police told the BBC that ISIS-led militants had killed 13 police officers and Kurdish peshmerga militiamen while capturing the village of Bayshir, south of the strategically important northern city of Kirkuk, over the past two days.
ISIS in IraqISIS in Iraq
ISIS grew out of an al-Qaeda-linked organisation in IraqISIS grew out of an al-Qaeda-linked organisation in Iraq
Iraq 'massacre' photos: What we knowIraq 'massacre' photos: What we know
Are you in Iraq or do you have family there? Have you been affected by recent events? You can send details of your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using 'Iraq' in the subject line.Are you in Iraq or do you have family there? Have you been affected by recent events? You can send details of your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using 'Iraq' in the subject line.