Barack Obama has vowed that the United States will not be “dragged back” into military action in Iraq as long as leaders in Baghdad refuse to reform a political system that has left the county vulnerable to a fast-moving Islamic insurgency.

European Union and United States officials met in Brussels today to relaunch stalled talks that would open up US airports to European carriers.

Defying a ban on protests, about 10,000 people demonstrated against Syrian interference in Lebanon this morning, shortly before parliament was to debate a motion of confidence in the government.