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| Iraq crisis: John Kerry in Baghdad as Isis seizes more towns | Iraq crisis: John Kerry in Baghdad as Isis seizes more towns |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| US Secretary of State John Kerry has arrived in Iraq's capital, Baghdad as Sunni insurgents expand their control of towns across north-western Iraq. | US Secretary of State John Kerry has arrived in Iraq's capital, Baghdad as Sunni insurgents expand their control of towns across north-western Iraq. |
| In Egypt on Sunday, Mr Kerry warned that Sunni militants Isis' "ideology of violence and repression is a threat not only to Iraq but to the entire region". | In Egypt on Sunday, Mr Kerry warned that Sunni militants Isis' "ideology of violence and repression is a threat not only to Iraq but to the entire region". |
| On Sunday rebels - spearheaded by Isis militants - captured border crossings to Syria and Jordan. | On Sunday rebels - spearheaded by Isis militants - captured border crossings to Syria and Jordan. |
| The strategically important airport in the northern Tal Afar has also fallen. | The strategically important airport in the northern Tal Afar has also fallen. |
| The town controls the main road from the Syrian border to Mosul, Iraq's second biggest city, which was captured by the rebels two weeks ago. | The town controls the main road from the Syrian border to Mosul, Iraq's second biggest city, which was captured by the rebels two weeks ago. |
| Officials said the rebels of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant took two key crossings in Anbar on Sunday, a day after seizing one at Qaim, a town in the province that borders Syria. | Officials said the rebels of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant took two key crossings in Anbar on Sunday, a day after seizing one at Qaim, a town in the province that borders Syria. |
| The capture of Tal Afar airport is a blow to the government as they were hoping to use it as a springboard to recapture the city of Mosul, says the BBC's Jim Muir in northern Iraq. | The capture of Tal Afar airport is a blow to the government as they were hoping to use it as a springboard to recapture the city of Mosul, says the BBC's Jim Muir in northern Iraq. |
| US Secretary of State John Kerry, speaking in Cairo on Sunday, urged Iraq's leaders "to rise above sectarian motivations and form a government that is united in its determination to meet the needs and speak to the demands of all of their people". | US Secretary of State John Kerry, speaking in Cairo on Sunday, urged Iraq's leaders "to rise above sectarian motivations and form a government that is united in its determination to meet the needs and speak to the demands of all of their people". |
| Since the fall of Mosul in early June, Isis have helped win large areas in the west and north. | Since the fall of Mosul in early June, Isis have helped win large areas in the west and north. |
| They have taken four strategically important towns in the predominantly Sunni Anbar province - Qaim, Rutba, Rawa and Anah - in the last two days. | They have taken four strategically important towns in the predominantly Sunni Anbar province - Qaim, Rutba, Rawa and Anah - in the last two days. |
| Gunmen reportedly captured the border posts of al-Waleed, on the Syrian frontier, and Turaibil, on the Jordanian border, on Sunday after government forces pulled out. | Gunmen reportedly captured the border posts of al-Waleed, on the Syrian frontier, and Turaibil, on the Jordanian border, on Sunday after government forces pulled out. |
| The capture of frontier crossings could help Isis transport weapons and other equipment to different battlefields, analysts say. | The capture of frontier crossings could help Isis transport weapons and other equipment to different battlefields, analysts say. |
| The BBC's Kim Ghattas, travelling with John Kerry | The BBC's Kim Ghattas, travelling with John Kerry |
| John Kerry called again on Iraq's leaders to rise above sectarianism and form an inclusive government. He was keen to stress in Cairo that Isis is a threat to the whole region. His message was clearly directed at Gulf countries and perhaps even Turkey. | John Kerry called again on Iraq's leaders to rise above sectarianism and form an inclusive government. He was keen to stress in Cairo that Isis is a threat to the whole region. His message was clearly directed at Gulf countries and perhaps even Turkey. |
| Many Sunnis saw in groups like Isis a useful tool to push back against the influence of Shia Iran, in Iraq, but also Syria. Turkey also turned a blind eye to funding flowing to Isis because, just like Gulf countries, it hoped the extreme radicals would bring about the demise of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Mr Kerry has appealed for countries to help stop funding for Isis, much of it comes from individuals, not governments. | Many Sunnis saw in groups like Isis a useful tool to push back against the influence of Shia Iran, in Iraq, but also Syria. Turkey also turned a blind eye to funding flowing to Isis because, just like Gulf countries, it hoped the extreme radicals would bring about the demise of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Mr Kerry has appealed for countries to help stop funding for Isis, much of it comes from individuals, not governments. |
| US officials are also hoping that clamping down on Isis might help the more moderate groups in Syria that are fighting Mr Assad and Isis. But unless the US is willing to drastically increase support for the moderate rebels, it may be too late for that strategy - especially as territorial gains by Isis in Iraq and Syria look hard to reverse for now. | US officials are also hoping that clamping down on Isis might help the more moderate groups in Syria that are fighting Mr Assad and Isis. But unless the US is willing to drastically increase support for the moderate rebels, it may be too late for that strategy - especially as territorial gains by Isis in Iraq and Syria look hard to reverse for now. |
| The US, which pulled out of Iraq in 2011, is deploying some 300 military advisers to Iraq to help in the fight against the insurgents. | The US, which pulled out of Iraq in 2011, is deploying some 300 military advisers to Iraq to help in the fight against the insurgents. |
| Sunni tribal leaders in Anbar say Isis militants make up only a small number of the fighters involved in taking over the province - most are tribes people and former security personnel from the Saddam Hussein era. | Sunni tribal leaders in Anbar say Isis militants make up only a small number of the fighters involved in taking over the province - most are tribes people and former security personnel from the Saddam Hussein era. |
| Shaikh Raad al-Suleiman, a senior figure in Ramadi, said the reason they had captured so much territory was because soldiers in the Iraqi army were not prepared to fight. | Shaikh Raad al-Suleiman, a senior figure in Ramadi, said the reason they had captured so much territory was because soldiers in the Iraqi army were not prepared to fight. |
| "Most of the officers and men came to their senses, left their arms, guns and vehicles and fled out of Anbar," he said. | "Most of the officers and men came to their senses, left their arms, guns and vehicles and fled out of Anbar," he said. |
| Are you in Iraq or do you have family in the country? You can contact us by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using 'Iraq' in the subject heading. |