US under pressure to act as Iran helps Iraq fight al-Qa'ida

Iraq refugees fleeing from Mosul head to the self-ruled northern Kurdish region, as they walk past an area in Irbil, Iraq, 350 kilometers (217 miles) north of Baghdad. AP

Colin Freeman

BARACK Obama was under mounting pressure to send military help to Iraq last night as Iranian forces were reported to have joined Baghdad's government in its battle against an al-Qa'ida-inspired uprising.

Accused by Republicans of squandering the security gains won in Iraq by US forces, a defensive Mr Obama insisted he was looking at "all the options" to prevent the country unravelling.