French FM in Iraq to boost aid efforts
Source: AP-EXCITE
By SINAN SALAHEDDIN and VIVIAN SALAMA
BAGHDAD (AP) — France's foreign minister said during a visit to Iraq on Sunday that Paris will provide "several tons" of aid to hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people and called upon leaders in Baghdad to unite against Sunni militants who have seized large parts of the country.
Speaking at a press conference with Iraq's acting Foreign Minister Hussain al-Shahristani, Laurent Fabius said his visit is aimed at boosting humanitarian efforts in northern Iraq, where tens of thousands of minority Yazidis have fled into the mountains and even into neighboring Syria to escape the extremist Islamic State group.
"The marching order is solidarity," Fabius said in Baghdad. He called on Iraqis to form a "government of broad unity so that all Iraqis feel represented and together lead the battle against terrorism."
The French diplomat also met with Iraq's embattled Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki before arriving in the Kurdish regional capital Irbil.
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Pope Francis delivers his blessing during the Angelus noon prayer he celebrated from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2014. Pope Francis has expressed outrage at violence aimed at religious minorities in Iraq that has seen children die of thirst, and said his emissary would depart Rome on Monday. In a strongly worded message during his traditional Sunday blessing, Francis said the news from Iraq "leaves us in disbelief." He cited "the thousands of people, including Christians, who have been brutally forced from their homes, children who have died from thirst during the escape and women who have been seized." (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
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