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Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki: Russian jets will turn tide | Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki: Russian jets will turn tide |
(34 minutes later) | |
Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has told the BBC that he hopes jets from Russia and Belarus will turn the tide against rebels in the coming days. | Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has told the BBC that he hopes jets from Russia and Belarus will turn the tide against rebels in the coming days. |
"God willing within one week this force will be effective and will destroy the terrorists' dens," he said. | "God willing within one week this force will be effective and will destroy the terrorists' dens," he said. |
He said that the process of buying US jets had been "long-winded" and that the militants' advance could have been avoided if air cover had been in place. | He said that the process of buying US jets had been "long-winded" and that the militants' advance could have been avoided if air cover had been in place. |
Isis and its Sunni Muslim allies seized large parts of Iraq this month. | Isis and its Sunni Muslim allies seized large parts of Iraq this month. |
Mr Maliki was speaking to the BBC's Arabic service in his first interview for an international broadcaster since Isis - the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant - began its major offensive. | Mr Maliki was speaking to the BBC's Arabic service in his first interview for an international broadcaster since Isis - the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant - began its major offensive. |
"I'll be frank and say that we were deluded when we signed the contract [with the US]," Mr Maliki said. | "I'll be frank and say that we were deluded when we signed the contract [with the US]," Mr Maliki said. |
"We should have sought to buy other jet fighters like British, French and Russian to secure the air cover for our forces; if we had air cover we would have averted what had happened," he went on. | "We should have sought to buy other jet fighters like British, French and Russian to secure the air cover for our forces; if we had air cover we would have averted what had happened," he went on. |
He said Iraq was acquiring second-hand jet fighters from Russia and Belarus "that should arrive in Iraq in two or three days". | He said Iraq was acquiring second-hand jet fighters from Russia and Belarus "that should arrive in Iraq in two or three days". |
The government has struggled to hold back the militants' advance from the north and west. | The government has struggled to hold back the militants' advance from the north and west. |
The US, which backs the Iraqi government, has stressed that the militants can only be defeated by Iraq's own forces. | The US, which backs the Iraqi government, has stressed that the militants can only be defeated by Iraq's own forces. |
Iraq has also been receiving support from Iran, with whom its Shia Muslim leaders have close links. | Iraq has also been receiving support from Iran, with whom its Shia Muslim leaders have close links. |
Mr Maliki also confirmed that Syrian forces had carried out air strikes against Islamist militants at a border crossing between Iraq and Syria. | Mr Maliki also confirmed that Syrian forces had carried out air strikes against Islamist militants at a border crossing between Iraq and Syria. |
He said Iraq had not requested the strikes but that it "welcomed" them. | He said Iraq had not requested the strikes but that it "welcomed" them. |
"They carry out their strikes and we carry out ours and the final winners are our two countries," he said. | "They carry out their strikes and we carry out ours and the final winners are our two countries," he said. |
Military and rebel sources say the strike took place inside Iraq, at the Qaim crossing, although Mr Maliki said it was carried out on the Syrian side. | Military and rebel sources say the strike took place inside Iraq, at the Qaim crossing, although Mr Maliki said it was carried out on the Syrian side. |
Militant sources have been reporting for two days that Syrian jets hit the Iraqi side of Qaim, and also Rutba which is further inside Iraq. | Militant sources have been reporting for two days that Syrian jets hit the Iraqi side of Qaim, and also Rutba which is further inside Iraq. |
The militants say 70 people were killed in the first attack and 20 in the second. | The militants say 70 people were killed in the first attack and 20 in the second. |
Fighting has been reported on Thursday, with Iraqi special forces flying into the university in the city of Tikrit and clashes ensuing. | Fighting has been reported on Thursday, with Iraqi special forces flying into the university in the city of Tikrit and clashes ensuing. |
Also on Thursday, the charity War Child condemned the "gravest violations against children's rights" in the course of the conflict, including "recruitment and use of children by armed groups". | |
The charity also says it fears the "risk of sexual violence for children is extremely high". | |
Analysis: Jim Muir, BBC News, Irbil, northern Iraq | Analysis: Jim Muir, BBC News, Irbil, northern Iraq |
So far, the Iraqi army has been unable to launch a strategic counter-offensive to drive the rebels back. | So far, the Iraqi army has been unable to launch a strategic counter-offensive to drive the rebels back. |
The addition of three Iranian-backed Shia militias to its forces in the field has added to the perception that this is a Shia army fighting to impose Shia rule on Sunni areas. | The addition of three Iranian-backed Shia militias to its forces in the field has added to the perception that this is a Shia army fighting to impose Shia rule on Sunni areas. |
Its chances of re-conquering the lost ground appear very slight. And if it did, it would be crushing and further displacing Sunni populations to plant the state flag on the smoking ruins. | Its chances of re-conquering the lost ground appear very slight. And if it did, it would be crushing and further displacing Sunni populations to plant the state flag on the smoking ruins. |
It's now taken for granted by most Iraqi politicians that the Sunnis have carved out their own area, and that things will never be the same. | It's now taken for granted by most Iraqi politicians that the Sunnis have carved out their own area, and that things will never be the same. |
Old battle lines redrawn | Old battle lines redrawn |
Mr Maliki is trying to form a new government but has rejected calls to create an emergency coalition which would include all religious and ethnic groups. | Mr Maliki is trying to form a new government but has rejected calls to create an emergency coalition which would include all religious and ethnic groups. |
He said on Wednesday that forming a broad emergency government would go against the results of April's parliamentary elections, which were won by his alliance of Shia parties. | He said on Wednesday that forming a broad emergency government would go against the results of April's parliamentary elections, which were won by his alliance of Shia parties. |
His political rival, Ayad Allawi, had proposed forming a national salvation government. | His political rival, Ayad Allawi, had proposed forming a national salvation government. |
Meanwhile, Masoud Barzani, the leader of Iraqi Kurdistan visited the northern city of Kirkuk for the first time since it was seized by Kurdish forces earlier this month. | Meanwhile, Masoud Barzani, the leader of Iraqi Kurdistan visited the northern city of Kirkuk for the first time since it was seized by Kurdish forces earlier this month. |
It fell into the hands of Kurdish fighters when Iraqi troops fled in the face of the Islamist advance. | It fell into the hands of Kurdish fighters when Iraqi troops fled in the face of the Islamist advance. |
Are you in Iraq? What do you think of the current situation? If you are happy to talk to a BBC journalist please email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk Please use the word 'Iraq' in the subject heading. | Are you in Iraq? What do you think of the current situation? If you are happy to talk to a BBC journalist please email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk Please use the word 'Iraq' in the subject heading. |