Iraq

President Barack Obama said on June 13 he will take several days to review options for how the United States can help Iraq deal with a militant insurgency, saying any action would need significant involvement by Iraq itself.

The turmoil in Iraq sent most European markets into sharp retreat on Friday, and with a benchmark drop of almost 3 percent, the local bourse was no exception. Investors have clearly been far more reserved since the crisis in the oil-rich country erupted earlier this week.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has discussed the growing insurgency in Iraq with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for the second time in three days, while Ankara established a crisis desk to inform the Turkish public daily about 80 Turks taken hostage by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in northern Iraq.

The  government will establish a crisis desk to inform the Turkish public daily about the latest developments in Iraq, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said June 13 after a crisis coordination meeting at the Foreign Ministry.

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) have continued their advance in Iraq after seizing Mosul on June 9.

Militants of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), who abducted 80 Turks in northern Iraq and who are approaching ever closer to the Iraqi capital Baghdad, have set rules for those living under their control in the province of Nineveh.

Turkey issued a fresh travel warning for Iraq on June 13 following recent developments that caused unrest to different parts of the country and recommended Turkish citizens to leave Iraq through safe routes.

MFA advises Serbian nationals to "leave Iraq"

BELGRADE -- The Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has recommended to all citizens of Serbia currently in Iraq to "maintain constant contact with the embassy in Baghdad."

Top Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani called June 13 for Iraqis to take up arms against "terrorists" who have overrun swathes of the country in a major offensive.

Turkey’s Mosul consulate was late to evacuate the building because Turkish authorities had reportedly been in constant contact with the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants. Meanwhile, the delay in the release of the captured Turkish hostages arose from differences of opinion within the ISIL.

As jihadist militants approach ever closer to the Iraqi capital Baghdad, Turkey has still yet to decide to evacuate its embassy in the city, an official has told Hürriyet Daily News, adding that the embassy staff were currently working to remove all Turkish nationals from Iraq.