Philip Hammond (Photo: Reuters)
The UK government has called on Iraqi political factions to agree on new ministers of the interior and defence as soon as possible in order to help the country face its security challenges, particularly from the militant Islamic State group.
"It is now vital that all communities in Iraq work together to overcome these challenges. To do this, it will be important for interior and defence ministers to be appointed quickly," Philip Hammond, the UK's foreign minister, said during his visit to Baghdad on Monday.
Hammond is scheduled to meet Iraqi Prime Minister Haydar Al-Abadi, Vice President Osama Al-Nujaifi and Foreign Minister Ibrahim Al-Jaffari.
The UK believes the formation of a new Iraqi government is a critical first step to addressing the serious security, political and humanitarian challenges facing Iraq.
During his visit, Hammond will hold meetings with Iraq's political leaders to discuss the threat from IS and the necessary international response.
The UK minister has also called on Kurdish ministers to take up their positions in the new Iraqi national government, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said in an official statement sent to Ahram Online.
"IS is a brutal terrorist group, unrepresentative of the people of Iraq, the Middle East or the Islamic faith. IS's violence makes no distinction between the cultures, countries and religions it attacks," the statement quoted the minister as saying.
The UK has joined a US-led international and Arab coalition which has carried out air strikes against IS targets in Iraq and Syria since August.
London recently announced that the UK Royal Air Force has also begun surveillance flights over Iraq.
Hammond warned that "if [IS] is left unchecked, we will face a terrorist and criminal cabal with a declared and proven determination to attack anyone who doesn't agree with its twisted ideology."
The UK supplies military equipment and training to Kurdish Security Forces, and has given 23 million Sterling (around LE266 million) in assistance to people affected by IS's attacks.
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