European Union foreign ministers have reportedly backed a plan to arm Kurdish fighters in Iraq. They are discussing the situation at a meeting in Brussels this afternoon.

The French have been leading plans to send arms, with Britain saying high tech equipment could be sent to help the Kurds fighting Islamic State militants in Iraq.

Speaking on his way into the meeting, the British foreign secretary Philip Hammond said the UK was supportive of France's stance.

Reporter Lisa Holland says a military consensus now seems to have been reached between EU leaders.

The Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki, who has held the position since 2006, announced last night that he will step down following pressure from the West.

The US Secretary of State John Kerry said "We commend the important and honourable decision by Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki to support Prime Minister-designate Haider al Abadi in his efforts to form a new government and develop a national program in line with Iraq's constitutional timeline."

"This milestone decision sets the stage for a historic and peaceful transition of power in Iraq," he added.

The formation of a new government comes days after Islamic State militants drove thousands from their homes in the north of Iraq.

US President Barack Obama has said most of the refugees who fled to Mount Sinjar have now moved back to safety and the situation has 'greatly improved'.

While several thousand refugees from the Yazidi minority remain on the mountain in searing temperature, a US rescue mission is now much less likely after US troops visited the area.

Islamic State's offensive this year has seen them capture major cities, such as Mosul and Tikrit, with reports of beheadings and crucifixions as they grab more territory for their self-proclaimed caliphate in Syria and Iraq.

Originally published 06:11