Turkey is a part of the problem and not an ally. More Obama fantasy foreign policy

Kerry in Turkey to boost support for anti-IS coalition

US Secretary of State John Kerry is pressing Turkish leaders in Ankara to support more military action against Islamic State (IS) in Iraq and Syria.

The visit comes after Turkey refused to allow the use of its air bases to launch attacks on the jihadist group.

French President Francois Hollande, in Baghdad, has vowed to step up support for Iraq in its battle against IS.

US President Barack Obama unveiled plans this week to expand its campaign against IS in the region.

Ten Arab nations have agreed to help the US in its fight against the group, which the CIA says may have up to 31,000 fighters on the ground.

France has also offered its support for military action against IS, as part of a coalition being formed by Washington.

"The goal is to co-ordinate aid, support and action for the unity of Iraq and against this terrorist group," President Hollande told reporters at the start of a one-day visit to Iraq.

He said he had assured Iraqi President Fuad Masum of "France's support and solidarity" with the new Iraqi government, which was announced earlier this week.

The French president was also due to visit Irbil, the capital of Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region, to distribute humanitarian aid later on Friday.

Turkey fears

US Secretary of State John Kerry had talks in Ankara on Friday with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in an effort to secure more co-operation from the Turkish government.

On Thursday Mr Kerry met representatives from 10 Arab nations in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, who said in a communique that they "agreed to do their share in the comprehensive fight" against IS.

Nato member Turkey was also at the Jeddah meeting, but did not sign the statement.

A Pentagon spokesman said Washington was preparing a more "aggressive" air campaign, with some of the aircraft taking off from the air base at Irbil.

One reason for that, says the BBC's Jim Muir in Arbil, is that the Turkish government has refused to allow such missions to be flown from bases in southern Turkey. It fears for the lives of nearly 50 Turkish hostages held by the militants, including staff from the consulate in Mosul, our correspondent adds.

Syrian government airstrikes

France is due to host an international conference on Monday, in which regional and international powers will seek to co-ordinate support for Iraq in its battle against IS.

Mr Kerry earlier announced an aid package worth nearly $500m for people and countries hit by the Syrian conflict, $250m of which will be allocated for refugees hosted in neighbouring countries.

It follows reports that dozens of people were killed in Syrian government air raids on the rebel stronghold of Douma, north-east of the Syrian capital Damascus, on Thursday.

"The toll from regime air raids on Douma has risen to 42 dead, including seven children and two women," the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Government airstrikes also hit a market in a town south-east of Aleppo, in northern Syria, killing 11 people, in an attack on IS, the observatory added.

President Obama on Wednesday said for the first time that he authorised air strikes against IS in Syria.

In recent months IS has expanded from its stronghold in eastern Syria and seized control of more towns, cities, army bases and weaponry in Iraq.

The US has already carried out more than 150 air strikes in northern Iraq. It has also sent hundreds of military advisers to assist Iraqi government and Kurdish forces, but has ruled out sending ground troops.

Other countries, including the UK, have contributed humanitarian assistance to Iraqis displaced by the militants' advance.