Kerry arrives in Iraq, meets new government officials
Iran Press TV
Wed Sep 10, 2014 1:35PM GMT
US Secretary of State John Kerry holds talks with new Iraqi authorities in capital Baghdad two days after country's lawmakers approved a new government headed by Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.
Kerry's visit comes as the Iraqi army, backed by Kurdish Peshmarga forces, local tribesmen and volunteer forces, is fighting against ISIL Takfiri group, which has managed to seize large swaths of land in northern Iraq and neighboring Syria.
During a meeting with PM al-Abadi on Wednesday, the US secretary of state hailed the new Iraqi leaders for their "boldness" to form a new government before country's constitutional deadline.
"We're very encouraged,'' said the top US diplomat, adding the US president is to set out his plans for how to counter the insurgent group later on Wednesday.
The Iraqi premier, in remarks after meeting with Kerry, called on the international community to help Baghdad in its fight against terrorists.
"Of course, our role is to defend our country, but the international community is responsible to protect Iraq, and protect the whole region,'' he said.
Al-Abadi also described the crisis in Iraq as a spillover form the war on neighboring Syria where the foreign-backed militants have a safe haven.
"What is happening in Syria is coming across to Iraq. We cannot cross that border _ it is an international border. But there is a role for the international community and for the United Nations ... and for the United States to act immediately to stop this threat.''
Kerry also met with Fuad Masum, country's new president and Salim al-Jubouri, the new speaker of Parliament.
The US and its allies in the region have been financially and militarily helping the militant groups fighting against Syrian government forces in past years, ignoring warnings by many countries that such insurgent groups will one day turn their weapons against those who armed them.
A report by an independent news website, WND on June 2014 quoted informed Jordanian officials as saying that the militants fighting against government forces in Syria "were trained in 2012 by US instructors working at a secret base in Jordan."
"The officials said dozens of future ISIS members were trained at the time as part of covert aid to the insurgents targeting the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Syria. The Jordanian officials said all ISIS members who received US training to fight in Syria were first vetted for any links to extremist groups like al-Qaida."
US Senator Rand Paul from the Republican Party has also criticized the White House for the rise of the ISIL in the region.
"I think that President Obama's support for the Islamic rebels has allowed ISIS to grow stronger in Syria … They never would have grown this strong without … their allies getting weapons from both us, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar."
AN/DT
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