Clashes on approaches to Baghdad

Iraqi government forces are engaged in heavy clashes with Sunni insurgents who have made major advances in the past week. Reports say parts of the city of Baquba - just 60km (37 miles) from Baghdad - were briefly taken over by the rebels. The US is deploying up to 275 military personnel to protect staff at its huge embassy in the capital. The prime minister of Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region has told the BBC he thinks Iraq may not stay together. He said it would be very hard for Iraq to return to the situation that existed before the Sunni militants, spearheaded by Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS), took control of the northern cities of Mosul and Tikrit in a rapid advance last week, and Tal Afar on Monday. via BBC continue