Iraqi Christians abandoned by UK: France, Germany offer them Assylum

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <h1 style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: center !important;"> <div style="text-align: left;"> <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/08/17/iraqi-christians-abandoned-by-cameron-over-immigration-fears-says-church-of-england_n_5685332.html?1408267017&utm_hp_ref=uk" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">CAMERON'S SILENCE</span></a></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"> <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/08/17/iraqi-christians-abandoned-by-cameron-over-immigration-fears-says-church-of-england_n_5685332.html?1408267017&utm_hp_ref=uk" style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;">Iraqi Christians Abandoned By UK Over Immigration Fears, Says Church Of England</span></a></div> </span></h1> <div class="splash_hdr_spacer" id="splash_hdr_spacer" style="border: 0px; font-weight: bold; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"> </div> <div style="border: 0px; font-weight: bold; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"> <div class="relative" id="headline_image_container" style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left;"> <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/08/17/iraqi-christians-abandoned-by-cameron-over-immigration-fears-says-church-of-england_n_5685332.html?1408267017&utm_hp_ref=uk" id="entry_id_5682201" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;"><img class="quickread_link" height="346" id="headline_image" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1969594/thumbs/r-CHRISTIANS-IRAQ-huge.jpg" style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" width="900" /></span></a></div> </div> <br /> <div style="text-align: left;"> <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/08/17/iraqi-christians-abandoned-by-cameron-over-immigration-fears-says-church-of-england_n_5685332.html?1408267017&utm_hp_ref=uk" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-weight: bold; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;">France, Germany Offer Asylum To Iraqi Christians.. But Not Britain.. </span></a></div> <span id="sub_headline_preview" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-weight: bold; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;"><div style="text-align: left;"> <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/08/17/iraqi-christians-abandoned-by-cameron-over-immigration-fears-says-church-of-england_n_5685332.html?1408267017&utm_hp_ref=uk" style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Archbishop Of Canterbury Backs Letter Calling For Action..</a> </div> <span style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"> <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/08/17/iraqi-christians-abandoned-by-cameron-over-immigration-fears-says-church-of-england_n_5685332.html?1408267017&utm_hp_ref=uk" style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">'We Have No Coherent Approach To Islamist Extremism'</a></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Church of England has slammed the Government for abandoning Christians in the Middle East, citing fears that any offers of asylum would cost the Tories points against Ukip and the anti-immigration movement.</span></div> </span></span><br /> <div class="content" id="mainentrycontent" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 20px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In a strongly-worded attack on David Cameron's handling of the crisis in Iraq - backed by the Archbishop of Canterbury - the Bishop of Leeds said "many" senior clergy were seriously concerned.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Rt Rev Nicholas Baines has written to the Prime Minister questioning whether there is any long-term strategy and criticising a "growing silence" over the fate of the plight of persecuted Christians. In particular he raised questions about ministers' failure to respond to calls - including through parliamentary questions - to set out what arrangements would be made to offer asylum in the UK.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img alt="christians iraq" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1969594/thumbs/o-CHRISTIANS-IRAQ-570.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" /></span></div> <center style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Iraqi Christian children, who fled with their families the violence in Iraq's largest Christian town of Qaraqosh, pose in a room of Ainkawa's Saint Joseph church</strong></div> </center> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Despite appalling persecution, they seem to have fallen from consciousness, and I wonder why," he said. "Does your government have a coherent response to the plight of these huge numbers of Christians whose plight appears to be less regarded than that of others? Or are we simply reacting to the loudest media voice at any particular time?"</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Decrying the lack of response to repeated appeals for asylum provision to be made for Christians, and other minorities, he said that in contrast to France and Germany there had "so far been only silence from the UK Government".</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">And he expressed fears over the future of the Government's "commitment to religious freedom". The cleric said he recognised "the complexity and interconnectedness of the challenges" but joined criticism of an apparent failure to respond effectively to the advance of Islamic State fighters.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"It appears that, in common with the United States and other partners, the UK is responding to events in a reactive way, and it is difficult to discern the strategic intentions behind this approach," he wrote in the letter, which he issued to newspapers and published on his website.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Please can you tell me what is the overall strategy that holds together the UK Government's response to both the humanitarian situation and what IS is actually doing in Syria and Iraq?</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Behind this question is the serious concern that we do not seem to have a coherent or comprehensive approach to Islamist extremism as it is developing across the globe.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Islamic State, Boko Haram and other groups represent particular manifestations of a global phenomenon, and it is not clear what our broader global strategy is - particularly insofar as the military, political, economic and humanitarian demands interconnect."</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Church internationally should be "a primary partner in addressing this complexity", he told him. The bishop welcomed the "notable and admirable" focus on the plight of the minority Yazidi community, who have been at the centre of an international aid operation as they flee IS massacres.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"However, there has been increasing silence about the plight of tens of thousands of Christians who have been displaced, driven from cities and homelands, and who face a bleak future," he went on.</span></div> <ul class="listicle" id="listicle" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; list-style: none; margin: 0px !important; min-width: 570px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <li class="slide_4088468 image slide" id="slide_4088468" style="border: 0px !important; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; list-style: none inside none !important; margin: 68px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><header class="no-number" style="border-top-color: rgb(153, 153, 153); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: 3px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; max-width: 900px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 560px;"></header><div class="title" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; max-width: 900px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div class="listicle-content" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 5px 0px 7px !important; min-height: 165px; padding: 0px 0px 5px !important; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img class="image-image" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/362970/slide_362970_4088468_free.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin: 0px 0px -6px !important; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" /></span><span class="credits" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; bottom: -23px; box-sizing: border-box; left: 0px; margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; right: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Anadolu Agency via Getty Images</span></span></div> <div class="caption" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Refugees, fleeing from Mosul, and Christians attend a concert at the yard of Saint-Joseph Church in Ankawa suburb of Arbil, Iraq</span></div> </li> <li class="slide_4088469 image slide" id="slide_4088469" style="border: 0px !important; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; list-style: none inside none !important; margin: 68px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><header class="no-number" style="border-top-color: rgb(153, 153, 153); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: 3px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; max-width: 900px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 560px;"></header><div class="title" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; max-width: 900px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div class="listicle-content" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 5px 0px 7px !important; min-height: 165px; padding: 0px 0px 5px !important; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img class="image-image" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/362970/slide_362970_4088469_free.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin: 0px 0px -6px !important; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" /></span><span class="credits" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; bottom: -23px; box-sizing: border-box; left: 0px; margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; right: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Anadolu Agency via Getty Images</span></span></div> <div class="caption" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Kurdistan Regional Government holds a concert with the participation of different music groups to give refugees, fleeing from Mosul and taking shelter at Saint-Joseph Church</span></div> </li> <li class="slide_4088470 image slide" id="slide_4088470" style="border: 0px !important; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; list-style: none inside none !important; margin: 68px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><header class="no-number" style="border-top-color: rgb(153, 153, 153); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: 3px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; max-width: 900px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 560px;"></header><div class="title" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; max-width: 900px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div class="listicle-content" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 5px 0px 7px !important; min-height: 165px; padding: 0px 0px 5px !important; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img class="image-image" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/362970/slide_362970_4088470_free.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin: 0px 0px -6px !important; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" /></span><span class="credits" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; bottom: -23px; box-sizing: border-box; left: 0px; margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; right: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Anadolu Agency via Getty Images</span></span></div> <div class="caption" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Iraqi Christians, fled from Iraq due to the Islamic State, abbreviated as IS,-led armed groups' attack, receive aid showing their passports during an organization held by Chaldean Catholic Church in Beirut</span></div> </li> <li class="slide_4088471 image slide" id="slide_4088471" style="border: 0px !important; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; list-style: none inside none !important; margin: 68px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><header class="no-number" style="border-top-color: rgb(153, 153, 153); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: 3px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; max-width: 900px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 560px;"></header><div class="title" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; max-width: 900px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div class="listicle-content" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 5px 0px 7px !important; min-height: 165px; padding: 0px 0px 5px !important; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img class="image-image" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/362970/slide_362970_4088471_free.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin: 0px 0px -6px !important; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" /></span><span class="credits" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; bottom: -23px; box-sizing: border-box; left: 0px; margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; right: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Anadolu Agency via Getty Images</span></span></div> <div class="caption" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Iraqi Christians, fled from Iraq due to the Islamic State, abbreviated as IS,-led armed groups' attack, receive aid showing their passports</span></div> </li> <li class="slide_4088472 image slide" id="slide_4088472" style="border: 0px !important; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; list-style: none inside none !important; margin: 68px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><header class="no-number" style="border-top-color: rgb(153, 153, 153); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: 3px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; max-width: 900px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 560px;"></header><div class="title" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; max-width: 900px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div class="listicle-content" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 5px 0px 7px !important; min-height: 165px; padding: 0px 0px 5px !important; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img class="image-image" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/362970/slide_362970_4088472_free.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin: 0px 0px -6px !important; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" /></span><span class="credits" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; bottom: -23px; box-sizing: border-box; left: 0px; margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; right: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Anadolu Agency via Getty Images</span></span></div> <div class="caption" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Iraqi Christians, fled from Iraq due to the Islamic State, abbreviated as IS,-led armed groups' attack, receive aid showing their passports</span></div> </li> <li class="slide_4088473 image slide" id="slide_4088473" style="border: 0px !important; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; list-style: none inside none !important; margin: 68px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><header class="no-number" style="border-top-color: rgb(153, 153, 153); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: 3px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; max-width: 900px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 560px;"></header><div class="title" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; max-width: 900px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div class="listicle-content" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 5px 0px 7px !important; min-height: 165px; padding: 0px 0px 5px !important; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img class="image-image" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/362970/slide_362970_4088473_free.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin: 0px 0px -6px !important; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" /></span><span class="credits" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; bottom: -23px; box-sizing: border-box; left: 0px; margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; right: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Anadolu Agency via Getty Images</span></span></div> <div class="caption" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Iraqi Christians, fled from Iraq due to the Islamic State, abbreviated as IS,-led armed groups' attack, receive aid showing their passports</span></div> </li> <li class="slide_4088474 image slide" id="slide_4088474" style="border: 0px !important; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; list-style: none inside none !important; margin: 68px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><header class="no-number" style="border-top-color: rgb(153, 153, 153); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: 3px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; max-width: 900px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 560px;"></header><div class="title" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; max-width: 900px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div class="listicle-content" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 5px 0px 7px !important; min-height: 165px; padding: 0px 0px 5px !important; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img class="image-image" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/362970/slide_362970_4088474_free.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin: 0px 0px -6px !important; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" /></span><span class="credits" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; bottom: -23px; box-sizing: border-box; left: 0px; margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; right: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Anadolu Agency via Getty Images</span></span></div> <div class="caption" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Iraqi Christians, fled from Iraq due to the Islamic State, abbreviated as IS,-led armed groups' attack, receive aid showing their passports during an organization held by Chaldean Catholic Church in Beirut, Lebanon</span></div> </li> <li class="slide_4088475 image slide" id="slide_4088475" style="border: 0px !important; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; list-style: none inside none !important; margin: 68px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><header class="no-number" style="border-top-color: rgb(153, 153, 153); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: 3px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; max-width: 900px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 560px;"></header><div class="title" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; max-width: 900px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div class="listicle-content" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 5px 0px 7px !important; min-height: 165px; padding: 0px 0px 5px !important; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img class="image-image" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/362970/slide_362970_4088475_free.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin: 0px 0px -6px !important; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" /></span><span class="credits" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; bottom: -23px; box-sizing: border-box; left: 0px; margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; right: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Anadolu Agency via Getty Images</span></span></div> <div class="caption" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Iraqi Christians, fled from Iraq due to the Islamic State, abbreviated as IS,-led armed groups' attack, receive aid showing their passports during an organization held by Chaldean Catholic Church in Beirut, Lebanon</span></div> </li> <li class="slide_4088476 image slide last" id="slide_4088476" style="border: 0px !important; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; list-style: none inside none !important; margin: 68px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><header class="no-number" style="border-top-color: rgb(153, 153, 153); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: 3px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; max-width: 900px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 560px;"></header><div class="title" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; max-width: 900px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div class="listicle-content" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 5px 0px 7px !important; min-height: 165px; padding: 0px 0px 5px !important; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img class="image-image" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/362970/slide_362970_4088476_free.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin: 0px 0px -6px !important; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" /></span><span class="credits" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; bottom: -23px; box-sizing: border-box; left: 0px; margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; right: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Pacific Press via Getty Images</span></span></div> <div class="caption" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">A Kurdish Christian family from Qaraqosh sleeps in the room that they have been allocated at Bazar International Shopping Mall in Erbil City center.</span></div> </li> </ul> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">House of Lords questions on the subject tabled by the Bishop of Coventry remain unanswered, he said, "something that causes me and colleagues some concern".</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Underlying these concerns is the need for reassurance that a commitment to religious freedom will remain a priority for the Government, given the departure of ministers who championed this. Will the Foreign Secretary's Human Rights Advisory Panel continue under the new Foreign Secretary?</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Is this not the time to appoint an Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom - which would demonstrate the Government's serious commitment to developing an overarching strategy (backed by expertise) against Islamist extremism and violence?"</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Bishop of Manchester, the Right Rev David Walker, said the Government had a "moral obligation that it is repeatedly failing to rise to". He told BBC Radio 4's Sunday programme that he believed the failure to offer asylum could be down to political sensitivities over immigration.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"There is always a concern around anything that could play into the debate around immigration," he said. "But the numbers that would come here are so small that effectively they are not going to disrupt British society in any noticeable or meaningful way. In fact they would be good assets to our society."</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">If the Government failed to act then Parliament should be recalled to debate the issue, he suggested. "But the issues are fairly clear. The Government needs to act."</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">A social media campaign to draw attention to the plight of Christians in Iraqi has seen many high-profile religious leaders, including the Archbishop of Canterbury, change their Twitter profile pictures to a snap of the Arabic 'N', which symbolises 'Christian', and using the hashtag #WeAreN. It has been daubed on houses by militants to identify where Christians lived in captured cities, but <a href="http://www.christiantoday.com/article/wearen.thousands.unite.to.support.persecuted.christians.in.iraq/39026.htm" sl-processed="1" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">Christians worldwide have expressed a desire to "reclaim" the symbol.</a></span></div> </div> <div> <footer style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><section class="also-on" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><h3 style="border-bottom-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> </h3> </section></footer></div> <span style="border: 0px; font-weight: bold; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></span><br /> <div style="text-align: left;"> <br /></div> <div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: left;"> <br /></div> <div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: left;"> <br /></div> <div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: left;"> <br /></div> <div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: left;"> <br /></div> <div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: left;"> <br /></div> <div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: left;"> <br /></div> <div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: left;"> <br /></div> <br /> <div class="content" id="mainentrycontent" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 20px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <ul class="listicle" id="listicle" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; list-style: none; margin: 0px !important; min-width: 570px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <li class="slide_4088476 image slide last" id="slide_4088476" style="border: 0px !important; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; list-style: none inside none !important; margin: 68px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="caption" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">A Kurdish Christian family from Qaraqosh sleeps in the room that they have been allocated at Bazar International Shopping Mall in Erbil City center.</span></div> </li> </ul> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">House of Lords questions on the subject tabled by the Bishop of Coventry remain unanswered, he said, "something that causes me and colleagues some concern".</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Underlying these concerns is the need for reassurance that a commitment to religious freedom will remain a priority for the Government, given the departure of ministers who championed this. Will the Foreign Secretary's Human Rights Advisory Panel continue under the new Foreign Secretary?</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Is this not the time to appoint an Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom - which would demonstrate the Government's serious commitment to developing an overarching strategy (backed by expertise) against Islamist extremism and violence?"</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Bishop of Manchester, the Right Rev David Walker, said the Government had a "moral obligation that it is repeatedly failing to rise to". He told BBC Radio 4's Sunday programme that he believed the failure to offer asylum could be down to political sensitivities over immigration.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"There is always a concern around anything that could play into the debate around immigration," he said. "But the numbers that would come here are so small that effectively they are not going to disrupt British society in any noticeable or meaningful way. In fact they would be good assets to our society."</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">If the Government failed to act then Parliament should be recalled to debate the issue, he suggested. "But the issues are fairly clear. The Government needs to act."</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">A social media campaign to draw attention to the plight of Christians in Iraqi has seen many high-profile religious leaders, including the Archbishop of Canterbury, change their Twitter profile pictures to a snap of the Arabic 'N', which symbolises 'Christian', and using the hashtag #WeAreN. It has been daubed on houses by militants to identify where Christians lived in captured cities, but <a href="http://www.christiantoday.com/article/wearen.thousands.unite.to.support.persecuted.christians.in.iraq/39026.htm" sl-processed="1" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">Christians worldwide have expressed a desire to "reclaim" the symbol.</a></span></div> </div> <div> <footer style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><section class="also-on" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><h3 style="border-bottom-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="video_box_title" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; 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PM Warns Of Terror State On Europe's Doorstep

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <section class="story__media" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="module module--primary" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 25px; width: 660px;"> <div class="module video" data-format-high="http://video.news.sky.com/video/h264/vod/700/2014/08/170814POLCameronMcCaffrey1408254762318700.mp4" data-format-low="http://video.news.sky.com/video/h264/vod/374/2014/08/170814POLCameronMcCaffrey1408254762318374.mp4" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 25px; overflow: hidden; width: 660px;"> <div class="video__placeholder-wrapper js-video" style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; height: 0px; padding-bottom: 371px; position: relative; width: 660px;"> <div class="image" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div class="image__wrapper image__wrapper--16x9" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 371px; position: relative;"> <img alt="" class="image__item video__teaser-image js-responsive" data-breakpoint="" data-sizes="144x81 362x204 762x428 942x530" data-sizes-wide="" data-template="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/17/329933/default/v2/pershmerga-forces-crawford-1-{width}x{height}.jpg" src="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/17/329933/default/v2/pershmerga-forces-crawford-1-942x530.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(220, 220, 220); box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 371px; max-width: 100%; page-break-inside: avoid; position: absolute; vertical-align: middle; width: 660px;" /></div> </div> <button aria-labelledby="video__caption-1320030" class="video__play--icon" style="background-image: url(http://news.sky.com/images/ffa94923.play-icon.png); background-position: 0px 0px; background-size: contain; border: none; bottom: 8px; cursor: pointer; height: 46px; left: 7px; margin: 0px; position: absolute; width: 46px;"><span class="video__play-a11y" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); display: inline-block; height: 1px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute !important; text-align: left; width: 1px;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Play video</span></span></span></button></div> <span class="video__caption" id="video__caption-1320030" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; min-height: 40px; padding: 10px 8px; width: 660px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="video__type" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Video:</span> <span class="video__teaser" style="box-sizing: border-box;">PM's Warning On Islamic State</span></span></span><span class="video__caption" id="video__caption-1320030" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; min-height: 40px; padding: 10px 8px; width: 660px;"><div class="story__standfirst" style="box-sizing: border-box; float: left; margin-bottom: 40px; max-width: 64%;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">David Cameron says a "firm security response" is needed against the Islamic State or it will bring terror to Britain's streets.</span></div> <div class="last-updated" style="bottom: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 40px; max-width: 40%; position: absolute; right: 0px; text-align: right;"> <div class="last-updated__text" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px;"> </div> </div> </span></div> </div> </section><div class="story__content-wrapper" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div class="share" style="box-sizing: border-box; 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margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 540px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">David Cameron has warned that if the Islamic State's onslaught continues Europe will be facing a "poisonous" terrorist state on the shores of the Mediterranean.</span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 540px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Prime Minister said urgent action needs to be taken to <a href="http://news.sky.com/story/1320004/us-launches-airstrikes-to-help-retake-iraq-dam" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border-bottom-color: rgb(203, 203, 203); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">defeat the extremist group</span></a>, which has created an expanding caliphate in the heart of Iraq and parts of Syria.</span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 540px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In a letter in the Sunday Telegraph, he said a "firm security response" is needed and Islamic State (IS) fighters would not be removed by airstrikes alone.</span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 540px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He wrote: "Because if we do not act to stem the onslaught of this exceptionally dangerous terrorist movement, it will only grow stronger until it can target us on the streets of Britain.</span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 540px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"We already know that it has the murderous intent.</span></div> <div class="image image--inline" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 540px;"> <div class="image__wrapper image__wrapper--4x3" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 405px; position: relative;"> <img alt="" class="image__item js-responsive" data-breakpoint="" data-sizes="91x68 300x225 480x360" data-sizes-wide="" data-template="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/16/329917/default/v1/kurds-1-{width}x{height}.jpg" src="http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2014/8/16/329917/default/v1/kurds-1-480x360.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(220, 220, 220); box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 405px; max-width: 100%; page-break-inside: avoid; position: absolute; vertical-align: middle; width: 540px;" /></div> <div class="image__caption" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; min-height: 40px; padding: 10px 8px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga fighters are battling against Islamist militants</span></div> </div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 540px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Mr Cameron said the West's first priority was to deal with the "acute humanitarian crisis" caused by people fleeing forces from IS, also known as Islamic State In Iraq and Syria (ISIS).</span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 540px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He praised Britons for risking their lives to deliver 80 tons of supplies to the Yazidis trapped in the blistering heat on Mount Sinjar.</span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 540px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"But a humanitarian response alone is not enough. We also need a broader political, diplomatic and security response," he wrote.</span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 540px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"We are in the middle of a generational struggle against a poisonous and extremist ideology, which I believe we will be fighting for the rest of my political lifetime.</span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 540px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"We face in ISIS a new threat that is single-minded, determined and unflinching in pursuit of its objectives."</span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 540px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He said IS has made ground in Syria and has the ancient city of Aleppo firmly within its sights.</span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 540px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It also wants to seize territory in Jordan and Lebanon, right up to the Turkish border.</span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 540px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"If it succeeds, we would be facing a terrorist state on the shores of the Mediterranean and bordering a Nato member," he said.</span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 540px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"This is a clear danger to Europe and to our security."</span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 540px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">His comments come after the Church of England attacked the Prime Minister's handling of the crisis.</span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 540px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Bishop of Leeds said "many" senior clergy were seriously concerned that the Government appears to have no "coherent or comprehensive approach" to tackling the rise of Islamic extremism.</span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 540px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In a letter to Mr Cameron backed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Right Rev Nicholas Baines said he recognised "the complexity and interconnectedness of the challenges" but criticised an apparent failure to respond effectively to the advance of IS fighters.</span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 540px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He also expressed concerns over a "growing silence" over the fate of the plight of persecuted Christians in Iraq and the failure to respond to calls to set out what arrangements would be made to offer asylum in the UK.</span></div> </section><section class="story__other" data-append="story__other" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: SkyTextRegular, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px;"></section></div> </div>

PM Warns Of Terror State On Europe's Doorstep

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Russia sending aid convoy to Ukraine despite Western warnings of 'invasion pretext'

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="yui-sldshw-displayer" id="displayFrame" style="float: none; height: 378px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 580px;"> <div class="yui-sldshw-active yui-sldshw-frame" id="frame_fd1fade" style="display: table; height: 378px; opacity: 1; position: absolute; text-align: left; width: 580px; z-index: 2;"> <div class="image-container" id="ic0" style="display: table-cell; height: 378px; margin: 0px auto; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 580px;"> <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/slideshow/idUSKBN0GA0C620140811#a=1" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); cursor: pointer; outline: none; text-decoration: none;" target="_top"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="A Ukrainian military convoy moves along a road near Donetsk August 9, 2014. REUTERS-Valentyn Ogirenko" id="image0" src="http://s3.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20140810&t=2&i=961632191&w=&fh=&fw=&ll=700&pl=378&r=LYNXMPEA7904M" style="border: none; height: 378px; margin: 0px auto; outline: none; position: relative;" /></span></a></div> </div> <div class="yui-sldshw-cached yui-sldshw-frame" id="frame_fd1fade" style="display: table; height: 378px; opacity: 0; position: absolute; text-align: center; visibility: hidden; width: 580px; z-index: 0;"> <div class="image-container" id="ic1" style="display: table-cell; height: 378px; margin: 0px auto; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 580px;"> <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/slideshow/idUSKBN0GA0C620140811#a=2" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); cursor: pointer; outline: none; text-decoration: none;" target="_top"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="A Ukrainian serviceman sits on a Soviet-made World War Two tank IS-3 which was seized from pro-Russian separatists near Donetsk August 9, 2014. REUTERS-Valentyn Ogirenko" id="image1" src="http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20140811&t=2&i=962580195&w=&fh=&fw=&ll=700&pl=378&r=LYNXMPEA7A0HU" style="border: none; height: 378px; margin: 0px auto; outline: none; position: relative;" /></span></a></div> </div> <div class="yui-sldshw-cached yui-sldshw-frame" id="frame_fd1fade" style="display: table; height: 378px; opacity: 0; position: absolute; text-align: center; visibility: hidden; width: 580px; z-index: 0;"> <div class="image-container" id="ic2" style="display: table-cell; height: 378px; margin: 0px auto; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 580px;"> </div> </div> <div class="yui-sldshw-cached yui-sldshw-frame" id="frame_fd1fade" style="display: table; height: 378px; opacity: 0; position: absolute; text-align: center; visibility: hidden; width: 580px; z-index: 0;"> <div class="image-container" id="ic3" style="display: table-cell; height: 378px; margin: 0px auto; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 580px;"> </div> </div> <div class="yui-sldshw-cached yui-sldshw-frame" id="frame_fd1fade" style="display: table; height: 378px; opacity: 0; position: absolute; text-align: center; visibility: hidden; width: 580px; z-index: 0;"> <div class="image-container" id="ic4" style="display: table-cell; height: 378px; margin: 0px auto; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 580px;"> </div> </div> <div class="yui-sldshw-cached yui-sldshw-frame" id="frame_fd1fade" style="display: table; height: 378px; opacity: 0; position: absolute; text-align: center; visibility: hidden; width: 580px; z-index: 0;"> <div class="image-container" id="ic5" style="display: table-cell; height: 378px; margin: 0px auto; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 580px;"> <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/slideshow/idUSKBN0GA0C620140811#a=6" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); cursor: pointer; outline: none; text-decoration: none;" target="_top"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="Passengers exchange farewells with acquaintances before boarding a train terminating in Moscow, at a railway station in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk, August 10, 2014. REUTERS-Sergei Karpukhin" id="image5" src="http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20140811&t=2&i=962580196&w=&fh=&fw=&ll=700&pl=378&r=LYNXMPEA7A0HW" style="border: none; height: 378px; margin: 0px auto; outline: none; position: relative;" /></span></a></div> </div> </div> <div class="rolloverCaption" id="captionContent" style="bottom: -1px; clear: both; float: left; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: -10px; padding-right: 20px; position: relative; width: 600px !important; z-index: 2;"> <div class="rolloverBg" style="background-image: none; clear: both; float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; width: 610px !important;"> <div class="captionText" style="height: 60px; margin-right: 10px; padding: 10px; position: relative;"> <div style="padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">A Ukrainian military convoy moves along a road near Donetsk August, 2014.</span></div> <div class="credit" style="margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">CREDIT: REUTERS/VALENTYN OGIRENKO</span></div> <div class="credit" style="margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px;">(Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin said on Monday</span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px;"> </span><span class="mandelbrot_refrag" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px;"><a class="mandelbrot_refrag" data-ls-seen="1" href="http://www.reuters.com/places/russia?lc=int_mb_1001" style="color: #006e97; cursor: pointer; outline: none; text-decoration: none;">Russia</a></span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px;">is sending an aid convoy to eastern Ukraine despite urgent Western warnings against using humanitarian help as a pretext for an invasion.</span></div> </div> </div> </div> <div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"> <br /></div> <div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"> <br /></div> <div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"> <br /></div> <div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"> With Ukraine reporting <span class="mandelbrot_refrag"><a class="mandelbrot_refrag" data-ls-seen="1" href="http://www.reuters.com/places/russia?lc=int_mb_1001" style="color: #006e97; cursor: pointer; outline: none; text-decoration: none;">Russia</a></span> has massed 45,000 troops on its border, NATO said there was a "high probability" that Moscow could intervene militarily in the country's east, where Kiev's forces are closing in on pro-Russian separatists.</div> <div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"> Western countries believe that Putin - who has whipped up the passions of Russians with a nationalist campaign in state-controlled media since annexing Crimea from Ukraine in March - could now send his forces into the east to head off a humiliating rebel defeat.</div> <div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"> Thousands of people are believed to be short of water, electricity and medical aid due to the fighting, but U.S. President Barack Obama told his Ukrainian counterpart that any Russian intervention without Kiev's consent would be unacceptable and violate international law.</div> <div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"> European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso delivered a blunter message directly to Putin in a telephone call on Monday. "President Barroso warned against any unilateral military actions in Ukraine, under any pretext, including humanitarian," the Commission said in a statement.</div> <div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"> The Kremlin, in its own account of the conversation, made clear that Moscow would indeed send help to largely Russian-speaking eastern Ukraine.</div> <div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"> "It was noted that the Russian side, in collaboration with representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross, is sending an aid convoy to Ukraine," the Kremlin statement said, without revealing when the convoy was going.</div> <span class="focusParagraph" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans;"></span><span id="midArticle_1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans;"></span><span id="midArticle_2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans;"></span><span id="midArticle_3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans;"></span><span id="midArticle_4" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans;"></span><span id="midArticle_5" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans;"></span><span id="midArticle_6" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans;"></span><span id="midArticle_7" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans;"></span><br /> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In a cautious response, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said it had submitted a document to Russian and Ukrainian officials on delivering aid. However, the independent agency stressed in a statement that it needed agreement from all parties as well as security guarantees to carry out the operation, as it does not use armed escorts.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"The practical details of this operation need to be clarified before this initiative can move forward," said Laurent Corbaz, head of ICRC operations for Europe and Central Asia.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">According to U.N. agencies, more than 1,100 people have been killed including government forces, rebels and civilians in the four months since the separatists seized territory in the east and Kiev launched its crackdown.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> </div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">UKRAINE SEEKS INTERNATIONAL EFFORT</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko came out in support of an aid mission but made clear it had to be an international effort under the aegis of the ICRC, involving the European Union as well as Russia.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He won Obama's backing when they spoke by phone on Monday.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The White House quoted Obama as saying that any Russian intervention without the Ukrainian government's agreement would be "unacceptable" and a violation of international law.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Earlier, Kiev said it was in the "final stages" of recapturing the eastern city of Donetsk - the main base of the separatist rebels - in a battle that could mark a turning point in a conflict that has caused the biggest confrontation between Russia and the West since the Cold War.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">An industrial metropolis with a pre-war population of nearly 1 million, Donetsk rocked to the crash of shells and gunfire over the weekend, and heavy guns boomed through the night into Monday from the outskirts of the city.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said there was no sign Russia had withdrawn the troops it had massed at the Ukrainian frontier. Asked in a Reuters interview how he rated the chances of Russian military intervention, Rasmussen said: "There is a high probability."</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"We see the Russians developing the narrative and the pretext for such an operation under the guise of a humanitarian operation, and we see a military build-up that could be used to conduct such illegal military operations in Ukraine," he said.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> </div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">SAVING THE REBELS</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">NATO fears Moscow would use any aid mission as a cover to save the rebels, who are fighting for control of two provinces under the banner of "New Russia", a term Putin has used for southern and eastern Ukraine, where mostly Russian is spoken.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ukraine appears to be pressing ahead with its offensive, undeterred by the presence of what NATO says are about 20,000 Russian troops massed on the nearby border for a potential ground invasion.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Kiev put the size of the Russian forces much higher. "As of 11 o'clock today, about 45,000 troops of the armed forces and internal forces of the Russian Federation are concentrated in border areas," Ukrainian military spokesman Andriy Lysenko told a briefing.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He said they were supported by 160 tanks, 1,360 armoured vehicles, 390 artillery systems, up to 150 Grad missile launchers, 192 fighter aircraft and 137 attack helicopters.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Lysenko said Ukrainian government forces had finally succeeded in cutting off the road between Donetsk and Luhansk, the other main rebel-held city, which is closer to the Russian border. Kiev and its Western allies say the route has been the principal means of supplying the rebels in Donetsk with weapons.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Fighting in recent weeks has focused on the route, near where Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crashed in July, killing all 298 people on board. Washington says the plane was almost certainly shot down accidentally by rebels using an advanced Russian missile. Moscow denies this.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"The forces of the anti-terrorist operation are preparing for the final stage of liberating Donetsk," Lysenko told Reuters. "Our forces have completely cut Donetsk off from Luhansk. We are working to liberate both cities, but it's better to liberate Donetsk first - it is more important."</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The leader of the rebels in Donetsk, Alexander Zakharchenko, a local man who took over the leadership from a Russian citizen last week, said the fighters were considering mounting a counter-attack against government forces in the next two or three days.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">And a volunteer government fighter suggested claims that government forces were about to take Donetsk were inflated. "Taking the town is an extremely complicated business and painful ... It will take, at the very least, several weeks," said Andriy Beletsky, commander of the so-called Azov battalion.</span></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span id="midArticle_9"></span><span id="midArticle_10"></span><span id="midArticle_11"></span><span id="midArticle_12"></span><span id="midArticle_13"></span><span id="midArticle_14"></span><span id="midArticle_15"></span><span id="midArticle_0"></span><span id="midArticle_1"></span><span id="midArticle_2"></span><span id="midArticle_3"></span><span id="midArticle_4"></span><span id="midArticle_5"></span><span id="midArticle_6"></span><span id="midArticle_7"></span><span id="midArticle_8"></span><span id="midArticle_9"></span><span id="midArticle_10"></span><span id="midArticle_11"></span><span id="midArticle_12"></span><span id="midArticle_13"></span><span id="midArticle_14"></span><span id="midArticle_15"></span></span><br /> <div style="margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> </div> <span id="midArticle_16" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span><br /> <div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"> Municipal authorities in Donetsk said artillery shelling knocked out power stations in the city and hit a high-security prison, killing one inmate and allowing more than 100 criminals to escape.</div> </div>

Russia sending aid convoy to Ukraine despite Western warnings of 'invasion pretext'

A Ukrainian military convoy moves along a road near Donetsk August, 2014. CREDIT: REUTERS/VALENTYN OGIRENKO...

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