09/08/2014 BBC Weekend News

President Obama has said halting the advance of Islamist militants

in Iraq will take some time and he's hinted at more US airstrikes.

It comes as two RAF cargo planes are making their way to Iraq to deliver

aid to thousands of people from the minority Yazidi community.

They have fled into mountains near Sinjar, in the north of the country,

to escape forces of the Islamic State, which was known as ISIS.

Militant fighters have already taken the Christian town of Qaraqosh,

And America's already carried out air strikes

against the Islamic State near the city of Irbil.

US air strikes on Sunni militant positions in northern Iraq. And

reluctant President Obama has his hand forced, as opponents were taken

by surprise, it seems. There is no doubt that their advance, their

movement over the last several months has been more rapid than the

intelligence estimates, and, I think, the expectations of

policymakers, both in and outside of Iraq. The other front in this

crisis, a second wave of American humanitarian aid drops on Mount

Sinjar, for the tens of thousands from the minority Yazidi community

who fled for their lives. Some relief as the eight floats down on

parachutes. In Britain, a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee.

British planes are about to join the relief effort, but the international

focus is now shifting onto how to create a safe corridor for those

trapped. We are looking at how to support this group of people and get

them off that mountain, how we are going to facilitate their exit from

what is a completely unacceptable situation. They're dropping supplies

is a short-term solution but it is not a long-term solution. Unverified

footage of the desperation of the refugees on Mount Sinjar, as Iraqi

government helicopters try to deliver some supplies. But according

to some of those refugees, it is simply not enough. There is nothing

around us, there are no supplies, no housing. We have seen Iraqi

helicopters dropping supplies three or four times. Not enough just

people, and I personally have around me 5000 people fighting for this

supplies. On top of all this, President Obama has reaffirmed

another message, the United States can continue to launch air strikes,

but in the long-term the Iraqis and their leaders must unite to defeat

the militants. Let's speak to our correspondence, David Willis, live

from Washington. We heard Mr Obama saying no quick fix, but what does

he think it will take to stop the advance of the militant forces?

President Obama making the point that the US could be in this for the

long haul. He suggested the targeted air strikes were effectively buying

time for the Iraqi security forces to get their act in gear and the

able to mount a credible opposition to the Islamic state fighters. That,

he said, could take some time. In the meantime, the priority was for

the Iraqi government to be informed, which is -- to be formed,

which is more representative of the different ethnic and political

groups. The feeling here is that the American air strikes can repel the

Islamist air strikes fairly easily. What will be more difficult is

tackling the humanitarian crisis. Nonetheless, no boots on the ground

and the opinion poll suggests the majority of Americans support him on

that. Palestinian health officials say

five people have been killed in Israel's resumed

its bombardment after the end Palestinian militants meanwhile have

fired more rockets and mortars Talks in the Egyptian capital Cairo

have failed to reach agreement Tens of thousands of people have

taken part in a demonstration in Central London today, in protest

against Israel's actions in Gaza. The march came as a British

emergency appeal for Gaza announced it had raised ?4.5 million pounds

in under 24 hours. Anger on the streets of London. Over

a conflict more than 2000 miles away, in which the UK isn't even

involved. They came to express their support for the people of Gaza, and

to condemn what they claim is Israeli aggression. We are

passionate about the illegal occupation of Israel on Palestinian

land, and we are passionate about the 400 people who have been

murdered and the British and the whole world are standing back and

doing nothing. Israel is butchering the Palestinians. The Palestinians

have been driven out of their homes, they have been massacred in their

thousands. As is clearly on display here, the conflict in Gaza is

inflaming passions. But there are of course two sides in the dispute,

supporters of Israeli policy may not have taken to the streets today, but

they are equally convinced that their cause is the just one. Israel

claims the demonstrators are failing to recognise the role of Hamas in

Gaza's tragedy. We don't have a problem with the protest, per se, we

have a problem with people expressing support for a terror

organisation, which is designated in the UK, and which today is the key

obstacle to prosperity in Gaza. British people of all colours, and

of all political parties, stand in solidarity with the people of Gaza.

But in Hyde Park this afternoon, speaker after speaker laid the blame

firmly on Israel to the approval of the crowd. As in the Middle East

itself, opinions here in the UK on the crisis in Gaza seem firmly in

trench. -- entrenched. The West African country of Guinea

has announced it's closing its borders with Sierra Leone

and Liberia. It's an attempt to halt

the spread of Ebola. Nearly a thousand people in

West Africa have died this year, Our correspondent Will Ross reports

from Nigeria, With Ebola now declared a national

emergency in Nigeria, the authorities are calling for extra

effort to stop the spread of the deadly virus, and prepare for the

worst. People have been told to avoid large gatherings, but that is

easier said than done in this vast, crowded city. More than ?6.5 million

have been released to boost the efforts to contain Ebola. President

Jonathan also approved ongoing steps to contain the virus, such as the

establishment of idea should know -- additional isolation centres,

mismanagement, the appointment of additional personnel, screening at

Borders and the procurement of required items and facilities. By

calling it a national emergency, the Nigerian authorities are really

saying let's get ready in case the Ebola virus spreads. But it is not

the same as declaring a state of emergency, as they have done in

Liberia. There, some freedoms have been suspended. The soldiers stop

people moving in or out of the badly hit areas were stopped in Sierra

Leone, similar measures have been imposed, as health workers struggle

with the number of patients. The outbreak began in a remote area of

Guinea in March. It took health experts weeks to realise it was

Ebola. The virus quickly spread to neighbouring Liberia and Sierra

Leone. Today, somewhat belatedly, Guinea announced the closure of its

poorest border with the country. There have also been two recent

deaths in Nigeria, where more than 100 people are under surveillance.

With close to 1000 deaths in West Africa, this is the world's worst

ever outbreak of the disease. The fight against Ebola has been

undermined by a lack of education and suspicion of foreign health

workers. It has been hard convincing people to stay away from their sick

relatives in these closely knit communities of West Africa. Cricket

now, and England are firmly in control of the fourth test against

India at Old Trafford. A short while ago, in the year were 105-7 in the

second innings. However hard you plan, whatever you budget for, where

ever you come from, cricket needs sun. Old Trafford dried up so

England could make hay. Joe Root and Jos Buttler. A partnership of 134.

For the first time in the match, batting looked easy. It never is

really. Stuart Broad meant the ball to head off to the boundary. Somehow

it squeezed between the Grail and the peak of his helmet, and actually

ended up stuck inside, where it mingled with blood, a reminder of

the damage a cricket ball can do. At least Broad could walk off, with

some guidance. Just after half past two, England came out to bowl again.

215 runs ahead, but without Stuart Broad, so who would take the

wickets? Chris Woakes was picked for this match ahead of other strong

candidates. LBW? Yes, Murali VJ look away now. Chris Woakes was less

first wicket of the summer. 53-3 when Moeen Ali one this LBW decision

and Pooja Rani Mac face turned to stone first at nothing strange about

Rohani's dismissal. Always James Anderson, Virat Kohli failed again,

India in tatters again and the sunshine in again.