'140,000 Iraqis' flee violence

More than 140,000 Iraqis have fled parts of Anbar province over clashes between security forces and al Qaida militants, the worst displacement of civilians in years, the UN has said.

It was “the largest” displacement witnessed in the country since the sectarian violence of 2006-2008, said he spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Peter Kessler, said more than 65,000 people fled the conflict just in the past week alone.