The Islamist terrorist group ISIS advances further on Baghdad. According to a report to its fighters have captured the largest refinery in the country – it would be a major strategic success. The Government challenges.
Fighter of the terrorist militia ISIS should have taken a report from the U.S. transmitter according to CNN the largest Iraqi oil refinery in Baiji. The approximately 200 kilometers north of Baghdad, Baiji is located strategically significant: In addition to the refinery, get out of the many gas stations in the country fuel, there is also a power station, served by the from Baghdad with electricity.
The government of Nuri al-Maliki contradicts. State television reports that the army offers resistance and continue controlling parts of the industrial complex, which is besieged by jihadists for ten days.
For about two weeks, the ISIS-fighters move violently from the north and west before on Baghdad. Large parts of the country are already under the control of Sunni extremists. According to a report in the “Washington Post” have killed dozens of people in several villages in northern Iraq suspected extremists ISIS. A local police chief said at least 55 people killed.
Among the victims were reported to have two little girls. Dozens of people are still missing. Villagers spoke of a “massacre”. Target of the attack about a week ago are four inhabited by Shiite Turkmen villages near the city of Kirkuk was, the newspaper reported, citing eyewitnesses.
Secretary Of State John Kerry:Possible military strikes
After a surprise visit to Baghdad on Monday U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is further traveled to the Kurdish autonomous region in northern Iraq. He wanted to bring the Kurdish leadership to take part in a new Iraqi government. The reported the news channel Al-Arabiya on Tuesday. The Kurds enjoy considerable autonomy in northern Iraq.
In the Iraqi capital Kerry had insisted on the swift formation of a government in which the three largest population groups in the country – Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds – are involved. Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki for a long time is already in the criticism, because his Shiite-dominated government discriminated against the Sunnis in Iraq. However, the Prime Minister rejects resignation.
But above all, emphasized Kerry in Baghdad, the U.S. was ready for a military strike – even before a new government was. U.S. President Barack Obama will not be deterred from with military steps in doubt that the formation of a new government was not yet complete. “Iraq is facing an existential threat, and the Iraqi leaders need the threat of diligence encounter,” Kerry said on Monday. “ISIS is struggling to divide Iraq and destroy.”
The United States had announced to support the Iraqi military in the fight against ISIS. Washington relies among other things on the shortest possible deployment of some 300 soldiers to be sent as a military advisor in Iraq.
The German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier talking to direct talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia. “Without some understanding between Riyadh and Tehran, the conflict will be difficult to solve,” the SPD politician of the “picture” said. Discussions could contribute to calming the situation in Iraq.
The ratio of the two countries is tense, however: the strict Sunni Riad leads in Syria a proxy war against the Shiite Iran by rebels financed and armed in the fight against the government there. Syria also defends itself against accusations of belonging to the main supporters of the ISIS militia.
Iran, however, is the most important allies of the Shiite Maliki. Given the ISIS offensive but Iran has increased at the border its safety precautions. Controls and monitoring would be widened and strengthened border posts, Interior Minister Abdolresa Rahmani-Fasli said on Monday. This is a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of violence on Iran.
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