Syrian Kurds help out
Syrian Kurdish fighters who have been rescuing Yazidi refugees have said air raids on IS militants and airdrops of aid have not done enough for people stranded on Mount Sanjir.
Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) said in a statement that the “humanitarian situation was severe” and that there is an urgent “need for food, medical aid, and water.”
YPG fighters, guerrillas of the Turkish Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), and local defense units have helped evacuate members of the Kurdish-speaking minority from the mountain range.
Maliki not going out without a fight
Maliki has said in his televised weekly address that it will take a federal court ruling for him to leave power.
"I confirm that the government will continue and there will not be a replacement for it without a decision from the federal court."
France Sending Arms
French President Francois Hollande has just announced that the country will deliver weapons to Kurdish Peshmerga forces fighting IS militants in northern Iraq.
Hollande's office said in a statement: "In order to respond to the urgent need expressed by the Kurdistan regional authorities, the president has decided, in agreement with Baghdad, to deliver arms in the coming hours."
More from Hollande’s office
"In order to respond to the urgent need expressed by the Kurdistan regional authorities, the president has decided, in agreement with Baghdad, to deliver arms in the coming hours.”
"France intends to play an active role by providing, along with its partners and in liaison with the new Iraqi authorities, all the assistance required."
Hollande also reiterated France's support for Abadi and urged a "unity government, representing all Iraqis to fight effectively against Islamic State."
Khamanei backs Abadi
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has expressed his support to Abadi, who now has the backing of key figures inside Iraq and in the international community.
"I hope the designation of the new prime minister in Iraq will untie the knot and lead to the establishment of a new government and teach a good lesson to those who aim for sedition in Iraq," Khamenei said during a meeting, according to a statement on his website.
Pope Makes Plea
Pope Francis has called on the international community to do all they can to stop the "systematic violence" and “humanitarian tragedy now under way" against ethnic and religious minorities in Iraq.
In a letter to UN chief Ban Ki-moon made public today, the pope said:
"I write to you, Mr Secretary General, and place before you the tears, the suffering and the heartfelt cries of despair of Christians and other religious minorities of the beloved land of Iraq.”
Yazidi Supporters To Rally In Armenia, Georgia
RFE/RL's Georgian and Armenian services have a story about Yazidis organizing demonstrations in their respective countries.
Members and supporters of the Yazidi communities in Armenia and Georgia are due to rally in their respective capitals on August 13.
The demonstrators will express support for the thousands of Yazidis in Iraq, who were given an ultimatum by advancing Islamic State (IS) militants to convert to Islam, leave, or be killed.
Earlier, a Yazidi delegation met with Armenia's Deputy Prime Minister Armen Gevorgian, who reiterated Yerevan's financial support for thousands of Yazidis stranded on Iraq's Sinjar Mountain.
Armenia has allocated $50,000 for humanitarian aid to be sent to the Yazidis, who fled IS attacks.
The delegation asked Yerevan to recognize IS attacks on the Iraqi Yazidi community as genocide and to grant visas to those Yazidis willing to seek asylum in Armenia.
Armenia is home to some 40,000 Yazidis, while neighboring Georgia has a nearly 20,000-strong Yazidi community.