France urges Europe to arm Kurds in Iraq

, Aug 13: French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius Tuesday urged the European Union (EU) to arm Iraqi Kurds to fight Islamist militants who have overran country's northern areas and triggered security crisis for its inhabitants.

Fabius noted "an obvious imbalance" between Islamic State (IS) militants that have "sophisticated weapons", and brave Kurdish fighters that lack such arms, Xinhua reported citing France info radio.

The IS has seized major towns in northern Iraq and forced tens of thousands of people, mainly Christians to displace.

"I asked Mrs. Ashton (EU foreign policy chief) to gather as soon as possible foreign ministers to take decision on this issue and I ask again for an emergency meeting," the French minister said.

On Sunday, Fabius visited Iraq to deliver humanitarian aid to besieged civilians in Iraq's northern provinces and met Kurdistan leader Massoud Barzani.

During the visit, Barzani stressed on the urgent need for weapons and ammunition that would allow them to confront and defeat the IS militants.

"It is about helping the Kurds, Iraqis, to have the means to resist and possibly beat the jihadists who want to kill everyone who does not think like them and not have their religion," he added.

IANS