U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met Iraqi leaders Monday as radical Sunni militants continue their march toward Baghdad during the country's tensest time since the U.S. withdrawal of troops in 2011. "The future of Iraq depends on decisions made in the next few days and weeks," Kerry said after meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, the man who some observers say needs to step down. Al-Maliki has agreed to a July 1 deadline to begin the process to form a new government, a requirement for U.S. assistance in fighting the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, Kerry said.
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Militant fighters believed to be ISIS seize the Baiji oil refinery, sources say
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United States, Iraq reach agreement over legal protections for U.S. advisers
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John Kerry says Iraqi leaders agree to form a new government by July 1
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U.S. defense official says Iraq's military is plagued with morale, training problems
On Monday, Iraqi troops prepared to recapture the airbase, @placeholder Maj. Gen. Abu al-Waleed said.
At least 71 prisoners and five police officers were killed Monday when militants attacked an @placeholder police convoy transferring inmates from one prison to another, police said.