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John Kerry seeks coalition against Islamic State John Kerry 'encouraged' by Iraq reform plans
(35 minutes later)
US Secretary of State John Kerry has met the new Iraqi PM at the start of a Middle East tour to build support for action against Islamic State (IS). US Secretary of State John Kerry has said he is "encouraged" by new Iraqi PM Haidar al-Abadi's plans for political and military reform.
Haidar al-Abadi formed a unity government less than 48 hours ago. The two men met as Mr Kerry started a Middle East tour to build support for action against Islamic State (IS).
An inclusive government was a condition for greater US and Nato support in the fight against IS militants who have taken over large parts of the country. Mr Abadi formed a unity government less than 48 hours ago to meet US calls for inclusivity and fight the lightning advance by IS rebels in northern Iraq.
Meanwhile at least nine people died in a series of car bombs in east Baghdad.
The explosions happened minutes apart in the Shia neighbourhood of New Baghdad. At least 25 others were injured.
US President Barack Obama is due to outline his plans to combat IS on Wednesday evening.US President Barack Obama is due to outline his plans to combat IS on Wednesday evening.
He said on Tuesday that he had authority to widen military action against IS without the approval of Congress, but said he would still ask lawmakers to endorse the arming of Syrian opposition forces. He said on Tuesday that he had authority to widen military action against IS without the approval of Congress, but added he would still ask lawmakers to endorse the arming of Syrian opposition forces.
IS militants have taken over large parts of Syria and Iraq in recent months and have declared a "caliphate".IS militants have taken over large parts of Syria and Iraq in recent months and have declared a "caliphate".
The US has already conducted dozens of airstrikes on IS targets in the past month, in an effort to protect ethnic and religious minorities threatened by IS. The US has already conducted dozens of air strikes on IS targets in the past month, in an effort to protect ethnic and religious minorities threatened by IS.
IS militants described the beheadings of two US journalists as a retaliation against the strikes.IS militants described the beheadings of two US journalists as a retaliation against the strikes.
Saudis 'main target'Saudis 'main target'
Mr Kerry's regional visit will continue in Saudi Arabia and other regional capitals, where he is hoping to boost military, political and financial support for the fight against IS. Mr Kerry made an unannounced visit to the Iraqi capital Baghdad, at the start of a tour of Arab capitals aimed at boosting military, political and financial support for the fight against IS.
After meeting Mr Abadi, the US Secretary of State said he was encouraged by the prime minister's "commitment to broad reforms that are necessary in Iraq to bring every segment of Iraqi society to the table".
Mr Abadi said that, with IS crossing from Syria into Iraq, the international community had a responsibility to protect Iraq and the whole region.
"There is a role for the international community, for the United Nations ... and for the United States to act immediately to stop this threat," he said.
Iraqi MPs approved members of Mr Abadi's new cabinet on Monday, paving the way for the creation of a new government.Iraqi MPs approved members of Mr Abadi's new cabinet on Monday, paving the way for the creation of a new government.
The US had insisted on the formation of an administration which did more to address the grievances of the Sunni and Kurdish minorities to allow the creation of a united front against IS.The US had insisted on the formation of an administration which did more to address the grievances of the Sunni and Kurdish minorities to allow the creation of a united front against IS.
The previous mostly Shia government of Nouri Maliki was considered to be too narrowly sectarian.The previous mostly Shia government of Nouri Maliki was considered to be too narrowly sectarian.
But despite US interest in Iraq's internal affairs, a senior state department official told the BBC that Mr Kerry will mostly talk to leaders here about Baghdad's role in the global coalition. Powerful militant Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr appeared to criticise Mr Abadi for meeting Mr Kerry.
"We wish for Iraq to co-operate with the neighbouring countries and its allies, but not with the occupiers," he was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency, referring to the recent US military presence in the country.
Where regional powers standWhere regional powers stand
Islamic State: What key countries thinkIslamic State: What key countries think
Meanwhile the Saudi ambassador in London, Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf, rejected suggestions that his government was supporting or funding IS.Meanwhile the Saudi ambassador in London, Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf, rejected suggestions that his government was supporting or funding IS.
"It is the lack of international involvement that has paved the way for terrorist-affiliated movements to breed within Syria, and now Iraq," he said in a statement."It is the lack of international involvement that has paved the way for terrorist-affiliated movements to breed within Syria, and now Iraq," he said in a statement.
"We have previously urged the international community to take an in-depth look at the financial backing and organisational structure of this terrorist organisation."We have previously urged the international community to take an in-depth look at the financial backing and organisational structure of this terrorist organisation.
"Had this been carried out it would have been revealed that rather than being the instigator of such terrorist network Saudi Arabia is in fact the main target.""Had this been carried out it would have been revealed that rather than being the instigator of such terrorist network Saudi Arabia is in fact the main target."
Mr Obama discussed his strategy to combat IS with leaders from Democrat and Republican parties at the White House on Tuesday. A spokesman said the talks were "productive".Mr Obama discussed his strategy to combat IS with leaders from Democrat and Republican parties at the White House on Tuesday. A spokesman said the talks were "productive".
The meeting with Congressional leaders came a year after lawmakers blocked Mr Obama's previous plans for missile strikes against Syria.The meeting with Congressional leaders came a year after lawmakers blocked Mr Obama's previous plans for missile strikes against Syria.
Mr Obama has ruled out the possibility of a US ground operation against IS but has signalled he may expand airstrikes to include Syria.Mr Obama has ruled out the possibility of a US ground operation against IS but has signalled he may expand airstrikes to include Syria.
John Boehner, speaker of the House of Representatives and one of Mr Obama's chief political adversaries, told the president he would back a US military deployment to train and advise the Iraqi security forces and assist in the targeting of IS leaders, an aide to the House speaker said in a statement to the BBC.John Boehner, speaker of the House of Representatives and one of Mr Obama's chief political adversaries, told the president he would back a US military deployment to train and advise the Iraqi security forces and assist in the targeting of IS leaders, an aide to the House speaker said in a statement to the BBC.
According to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll, a large majority of the American public views Islamic State as a serious threat to the US and widely supports air strikes in Iraq and Syria.According to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll, a large majority of the American public views Islamic State as a serious threat to the US and widely supports air strikes in Iraq and Syria.