France to deliver arms to Kurds in Iraq: Hollande

PARIS - Agence France-Presse

French President Francois Hollande delivers a speech outside the Foreign Affairs ministry in Paris on July 26, 2014. AFP Photo

France will deliver weapons to Kurdish forces fighting Islamic extremists in Iraq, President Francois Hollande announced on Aug. 13.
     
"In order to respond to the urgent need expressed by the Kurdistan regional authorities, the president has decided, in agreement with Baghdad, to deliver arms in the coming hours," Hollande's office said in a statement.

 Over the weekend, Paris already provided 18 tonnes of humanitarian aid and a new shipment of 20 tonnes of aid was due to arrive in northern Iraq later Wednesday.
      
Hollande reiterated France's support for Iraq's premier designate Haidar al-Abadi and urged a "unity government, representing all Iraqis to fight effectively against Islamic State."