White House Pushes for Political Change in Iraq

The White House is stepping up efforts to push for political change in Iraq as Sunni militants continue their attack across the country.

The U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has made calls to Iraq's leaders to stress the need for unity. The U.S. is currently considering a request from Baghdad to carry out air strikes on extremist targets. 

Meanwhile Up to 450 Britons have joined the ranks of an extremist Islamist militant group in Iraq and could attack the UK, a Kurdish intelligence chief has claimed.

Lahoor Talabani, director of counter terrorism for the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), told Sky News that the offensive in the north of the country by the Islamic State ofIraq and the Levant (Isis) should not be viewed as an attack only on the Iraqi government.

His comments echo those of Prime Minister David Cameron, who yesterday warned that Isis was plotting terror attacks on the UK and that militants returning from fighting in Iraqand neighbouring Syria now represent a greater threat than those from Afghanistan.

Mr Talabani said: "According to the intelligence we have, just Britain alone have around 400 to 450 known people fighting amongst the ranks of Isis."