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The European Union has said it supports any country wanting to arm Kurdish forces fighting Islamic State Jihadists in Northern Iraq and has deplored a growing humanitarian crisis in the country.
But EU foreign Ministers in Brussels stopped short of agreeing to send a joint mission, after France said it would send weapons, during talks which also discussed a worsening crisis in Ukraine.
Our correspondent Sandra Gathmann reports.
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An escalation of fighting in Iraq and Ukraine prompted this rare, emergency meeting of EU foreign Ministers in Brussels.
The European countries present deplored the atrocities carried out by Sunni militants in Iraq. But so far only France has answered calls from the Northern Kurdish region for better weapons to fight jihadist advances.
Britain, Italy and the Czech Republic say they're prepared to follow suit, while Germany's foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier will be in Iraq to assess the needs of Kurdish fighters first.
US military airstrikes, Kurdish officials say have helped, but a growing humanitarian crisis surrounding more than 1.2 million refugees in the region remains another concern… Germany is now the latest country after France, the UK and Us airlifting aid to those fleeing the violence.
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Meanwhile a new dawn in Iraqi politics following Thursday's resignation of Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki is being hailed by EU diplomats as a chance to form an inclusive government that can help drive a solution. EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton
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The EU also remains concerned about tension on the Ukrainian border with Russia, given the fresh presence of a Russian military convoy Moscow says is designed for aid delivery, hinting the possibility of further sanctions should Russia make any military advance into Ukraine. UK's Foreign Secretary Phillip Hammond:
TAKE BITE: PHILLIP HAMMOND
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The EU remains extremely watchful as tensions continue to escalate in both Ukraine and the Middle East. The question is how far these crises will be allowed to worsen before tougher action is agreed. Sandra Gathmann, Brussels.