Paris (AFP) - French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius called Thursday for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council after Islamist militants seized Iraq's largest Christian town, forcing tens of thousands to flee.

"Given the seriousness of the situation -- the first victims of which are civilians and religious minorities -- France is requesting an urgent meeting of the Security Council so the international community can mobilise to counter the terrorist threat in Iraq and support and protect the population at risk," Fabius said in a statement.