UN Security Council to Meet Over Iraq on Thursday

Local Editor

The UN Security Council will meet to discuss Iraq on Thursday, in a sign of growing international alarm as an assault by heavily armed militants move in closer to Iraq's capital city of Baghdad.

Diplomats said the closed consultations will include a briefing by video link from the UN special representative to Iraq, Nickolay Mladenov, AFP reported. 

Earlier, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged the international community to unite behind Iraq as the country confronts the "serious security challenge."

Ban also called for the immediate, unconditional and safe release of 49 Turkish citizens kidnapped from their consulate in Mosul, including the consul general and several staff.

Sources: News Agencies, Edited by website team