Mosul: Turkey insists its forces 'cannot remain idle' Published duration 22 October 2016

image copyright Reuters image caption Turkey and its forces regard Mosul as a key part of its sphere of influence within Iraq

Turkey has insisted that its forces cannot remain idle during the fight to drive so-called Islamic State militants from the Iraqi city of Mosul.

PM Binali Yildirim said it might be necessary to take action because Iraq and the US had not kept their promises.

He said both countries had allowed Shia militias and Kurdish separatists to take part in the operation.

Iraqi PM Haider al-Abadi on Saturday told the US that there was no need for Turkish forces as yet.

Fighting on the sixth day of the offensive on Saturday was reported to be intense, as the Iraqi military seized more ground.

image copyright AFP image caption Turkey accuses the US and Iraq of reneging on promises not to allow Shia fighters (above) and Kurdish separatists from taking take part in the Mosul offensive

image copyright AFP image caption The offensive against Mosul s a two-pronged operation, with government forces attacking from the south and Kurdish fighters (above) advancing from the east

Visiting US Defence Secretary Ash Carter has promised significant resources would be set aside for rebuilding Mosul once it had been recaptured from Islamic State (IS).

Correspondents say Mr Abadi's refusal to countenance the prospect of Turkish involvement in the Mosul offensive could upset Turkish President Recip Tayyip Erdogan, who has warned of sectarian bloodshed if the Iraqi army relies on Shia militias to retake Mosul, which is mostly a Sunni Muslim city.

Mosul was once part of the Ottoman empire and Turkey sees the city as squarely within its zone of influence.

"I know that the Turks want to participate, we tell them thank you, this is something the Iraqis will handle," Mr Abadi said after meeting Mr Carter in Baghdad on Saturday.

"If help is needed, we will ask for it from Turkey or from other regional countries," he said.

Mr Carter meanwhile indicated his conditional backing for a possible Turkish role in the campaign, pointing out that there was an agreement in principle that could allow for eventual Turkish participation.

"Turkey... has an interest in the ultimate outcome in Mosul. Many other parties do as well. It's a complicated city," he said.

image copyright AFP image caption Thousands of civilians are fleeing Mosul as the operation to retake the city gains ground

image copyright Reuters image caption The US says Islamic State fighters deliberately set the sulphur plant on fire

Meanwhile hundreds of people in Iraq are being treated for the effects of toxic gases after a sulphur plant was set alight in fighting with IS.

The US military says IS fighters set the plant on fire earlier this week, as they fled an advance by pro-government forces on their Mosul stronghold.

On Saturday, US soldiers at a base near Mosul donned protective masks as wind blew smoke towards them.

Reuters said another 1,000 people were being treated for breathing problems.

Advancing Iraqi forces on Saturday entered the town of Qaraqosh, about 30km (20 miles) south of Mosul, the IS capital.

Qaraqosh, Iraq's largest Christian town before the war, is said to be largely empty but IS has laid landmines on the approaches to Mosul.

The militants have been attacking with suicide bombers elsewhere, driving vehicles laden with explosives at high speed towards government lines.