The leader of the Islamic State, formerly Isis, has released the first audiotape calling for jihad since the group renamed. The group is currently battling Iraqi forces across large parts of the country.
The United Nations Human Rights Chief Navi Pillay said the UN was "extremely alarmed" by the impact of the Islamist takeover of several cities in Iraq on the civilian population.
Pillay said the UN was alarmed by reports that the number of people killed in summary executions and extrajudicial killings "may run into the hundreds".
The UN said an estimated 500,000 people have been forced to flee their homes to escape the violence.
The Foreign Secretary has been clear on the threat of Isis, but he has ruled out the prospect of any UK military involvement in the crisis.
Iraq’s foreign minister, Hoshyar Zebari, is a natural diplomat. Polite, immaculately dressed, and blessed with a great memory.
Isis has paraded military equipment in Mosul it captured from when the Iraqi army fled in what some see as a "nightmare scenario."