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| UK sending arms to Iraqi government | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Heavy machine guns and ammunition are being donated to Iraq to help fight Islamic State militants, the Ministry of Defence says. | Heavy machine guns and ammunition are being donated to Iraq to help fight Islamic State militants, the Ministry of Defence says. |
| Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the equipment was worth about £1.6m, and there would be an estimated £475,000 in transport costs. | Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the equipment was worth about £1.6m, and there would be an estimated £475,000 in transport costs. |
| He said the UK is committed to assisting the Iraqi government and to help Kurdish forces defend themselves. | He said the UK is committed to assisting the Iraqi government and to help Kurdish forces defend themselves. |
| The equipment is due to arrive in Iraq on Wednesday. | The equipment is due to arrive in Iraq on Wednesday. |
| The "gifting" of the equipment is being sent at the request of the Iraqi government, including the Kurdish regional government, Mr Fallon added. | |
| The news comes after Iraq created a new government, sharing posts between the Shia Arab majority, Sunni Arabs and Kurds. | The news comes after Iraq created a new government, sharing posts between the Shia Arab majority, Sunni Arabs and Kurds. |
| The Islamic State jihadist group has taken control of large swathes of Iraq and Syria and in June declared the creation of a "caliphate", or Islamic state. | The Islamic State jihadist group has taken control of large swathes of Iraq and Syria and in June declared the creation of a "caliphate", or Islamic state. |
| Government change | |
| Mr Fallon said the UK wanted to offer help to the Iraqi authorities by "alleviating the humanitarian suffering of those Iraqis targeted by ISIL [Islamic State] terrorists". | |
| He also said Britain wanted to promote "an inclusive, sovereign and democratic Iraq that can push back on ISIL advances and restore stability and security across the country, and working with the international community to tackle the broader threat that ISIL poses to the region and other countries around the world, including the UK". | |
| He added: "The Kurdish forces remain significantly less well equipped than ISIL and we are responding to help them defend themselves, protect citizens and push back ISIL advances." | He added: "The Kurdish forces remain significantly less well equipped than ISIL and we are responding to help them defend themselves, protect citizens and push back ISIL advances." |
| Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond had earlier said the appointment of Iraq's new government, led by Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, was an important milestone for the country. | |
| He said it was "now vital that all political blocs work together to overcome those challenges", including the threat posed by IS. | |
| He added: "The British government will work closely with the new government of Iraq as it fights terrorism and to further strengthen the political, security and, economic ties between our nations." | |
| US president Barack Obama is due to outline his strategy for dealing with IS on Wednesday. | |
| Prime Minster David Cameron has said that if Mr Obama announces further military action against the jihadists - apart from the US air strikes that have already taken place - then MPs will have a vote on whether Britain is to join in that action. | |
| But he has said the government could take action without the approval of Parliament in the event of an immediate humanitarian catastrophe or if a British interest needs urgent protection. |