Kerry arrives in Baghdad on tour to build coalition against Islamic State
US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Baghdad on Wednesday as he began a tour of the Middle East to build military, political and financial support to defeat Islamic State militants controlling parts of Iraq and Syria.
Kerry on Monday had hailed the formation of a new, more inclusive, Iraqi government under Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi as a "major milestone", and Washington had said it was vital before there could be further US action to help push back the militants, who took over large parts of northern Iraq this year.
Kerry flew to Baghdad from Jordan, the first stop on his tour, which will also include Saudi Arabia and probably other Arab capitals.
