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              Iraqi, Kurdish Forces Move on Besieged Northern Town

   by VOA News

   Iraqi and Kurdish forces have launched a major offensive aimed at
   liberating a northern town besieged by extremist fighters for more than
   two months.

   Sources say the Iraqi troops and Kurdish Peshmerga fighters were
   advancing Saturday from four directions on the northern town of Amerli,
   which has been largely cut off from water, food and other supplies
   since June.

   Armed fighters in the town of 15,000 residents have so far been able to
   defend against Islamic State militants, who view the Shi'ite Turkmen
   population as apostates.

   The Los Angeles Times quoted witnesses Saturday as saying humanitarian
   aid was airdropped by what was identified as a U.S. military cargo
   plane. The Pentagon did not immediately confirm the delivery.

   U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says Washington will use an upcoming
   NATO summit to [1]push for a coalition of countries to fight the Sunni
   extremists.

   Kerry, writing in the New York Times, called the Islamic State
   militancy  a "cancer," and he vowed "it will not be allowed to spread
   to other countries."

   Separately, in comments published early Saturday, Saudi King Abdullah
   warned that Islamic State extremists could target Europe and the United
   States, if the West fails to agree on a strong response to the
   militancy. Official Saudi media quoted the king as saying the
   "terrorists do not know the name of humanity, and you have witnessed
   them severing heads and giving them to children to walk with in the
   street."

   Public outrage over the beheading of an American journalist and several
   mass executions claimed by militants in nearby Syria has led U.S.
   President Barack Obama to consider strikes on militant targets in
   eastern Syria.

   Kerry said he and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel will seek support at
   the September 5 NATO summit in Wales for "the broadest possible
   assistance" in acting against the militancy. The two Americans then
   will visit Middle East capitals to solidify support from countries
   directly threatened by the extremist movement.

   Earlier Saturday near Baghdad, authorities said a suicide bomber
   targeting the Iraqi military killed at least 11 people, including four
   soldiers.

   Officials said the bomber detonated explosives in his car at an army
   checkpoint in Youssifiyah, about 20 kilometers south of the capital. At
   least 24 people were wounded in the attack.

   Some information for this report comes from AP, AFP and Reuters.
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   [2]http://www.voanews.com/content/iraq-kurd-forces-advance-on-peshmerga
   -ameri-kerry-islamic-state/2433561.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/kerry-calls-for-global-coalition-to-fight-islamic-terrorists/2433122.html
   2. http://www.voanews.com/content/iraq-kurd-forces-advance-on-peshmerga-ameri-kerry-islamic-state/2433561.html