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| John Kerry says world cannot watch IS evil spread | |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| The world cannot watch the spread of "evil" from the Islamic State militant group, US Secretary of State John Kerry has said in a news conference in Iraq. | |
| Mr Kerry, on a Middle East tour, said IS was the "single greatest threat" the people of Iraq now face. | |
| He said there would be a global plan to defeat IS, but the new Iraq government must be the "engine" of that fight. | |
| IS has seized large areas of northern Iraq, overrunning the army and gaining backing from some disaffected Sunnis. | |
| Meanwhile, at least nine people died in a series of car bombs in east Baghdad. | 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. | The explosions happened minutes apart in the Shia neighbourhood of New Baghdad. At least 25 others were injured. |
| Mr Kerry made an unannounced visit to the Iraqi capital Baghdad at the start of a tour of Middle Eastern capitals aimed at boosting 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 Middle Eastern capitals aimed at boosting military, political and financial support for the fight against IS. |
| He held talks with Iraq's new Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi, who appealed for international support to defeat the "cancer" of IS. | |
| "Of course, our role is to defend our country, but the international community is responsible to protect Iraq," Mr Abadi said after meeting Mr Kerry. | |
| The US diplomat promised that President Barack Obama would make it clear later on Wednesday what his country planned to do "to take on this terrorist structure". | |
| Mr Obama said on Tuesday that he had authority to widen military action against IS without the approval of Congress. | Mr Obama said on Tuesday that he had authority to widen military action against IS without the approval of Congress. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Meanwhile, Saudi ambassador in London Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf, rejected suggestions that his government was supporting or funding IS. | Meanwhile, Saudi ambassador in London Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf, rejected suggestions that his government was supporting or funding IS. |
| He instead blamed a lack of international involvement for allowing the group to flourish. | He instead blamed a lack of international involvement for allowing the group to flourish. |
| Where regional powers stand | Where regional powers stand |
| Islamic State: What key countries think | Islamic State: What key countries think |
| Sadr criticism | Sadr criticism |
| Mr Kerry and Mr Abadi also discussed plans to reform Iraq's military and form an inclusive government. | Mr Kerry and Mr Abadi also discussed plans to reform Iraq's military and form an inclusive government. |
| Mr Abadi, a Shia, has promised to devolve more power to Sunnis and tackle the central government's relations with the Kurdish minority. | Mr Abadi, a Shia, has promised to devolve more power to Sunnis and tackle the central government's relations with the Kurdish minority. |
| 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". | 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". |
| 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. |
| Powerful militant Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr appeared to criticise Mr Abadi for meeting Mr Kerry. | 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. | "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. |