A German foreign ministry spokesman confirmed that European Union (EU) Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton may call foreign ministers to Brussels later today for talks on how to respond to the crisis in Iraq.

"We have confronted an existential threat to tens of thousands of people, who are fighting for their lives at the moment. It is an existential threat to ethnic and religious minorities in Iraq, for the state and for the whole region," the German official said, Alforat news agency reported.

"Ashton has suggested Friday for such a meeting... The German government thinks it is very important that there is a European response. It is particularly important to have a coherent European response in terms of equipment and humanitarian aid," he added.

Last week a report said that militants from the Takfiri Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) cult in Iraq have continued their assaults on Christian areas in the Northern parts of the country.

The ISIL terrorists have resumed shelling a number of towns in the region, tormenting the civilian population there, local residents said.

The towns are among many where Christians have sought refuge over the past weeks due to atrocities committed by the ISIL.

The ISIL terrorists have targeted other minority groups, including the Ezadi population.

Approximately, two-thirds of the Ezadi population has been displaced by the terrorist group.

The militants have killed a number of family members and abused women and children, Ezadi residents said.

The terror group is currently in control of some areas in Northern and Northwestern Iraq, committing crimes in those areas including mass execution of civilians as well as army troops and officers.

The ISIL militants took control of the Northern city of Mosul in a lightning advance on June 10, which was followed by the fall of Tikrit, located 140 kilometers (87 miles) Northwest of the capital, Baghdad.
 

News ID 187026