Iraq: Obama Rules Out Sending US Ground Troops

US President Barack Obama has ruled out sending American troops back to Iraq to help repel Islamist rebels advancing in the strife-torn country.

As insurgents edged closer to the capital Baghdad, Mr Obama said from the White House that unless Iraq deals with its internal problems, short-term US military action would not be much help.

"We will not be sending US troops back into combat in Iraq, but I have asked my national security team to prepare a range of other options that could help support Iraqi security forces," he said on Friday.

He said he would make a decision "in the days ahead" on the options, amid reports the Pentagon is drafting plans for possible air strikes against the Islamist rebels.

Mr Obama discusses the Iraq situation with his security team on Friday

"The United States will do our part, but ultimately it's up to the Iraqis as a sovereign nation to solve their problems," Mr Obama said from the South Lawn. 

"We can't do it for them," he added.

The president then set off on a four-day trip to North Dakota and California.

Volunteers who have joined the Iraqi Army to fight ISIS board an army truck

Several divisions of the Iraqi army - trained and equipped by the US - melted away this week before a lightning advance by insurgents from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

Republican Senator John McCain said on MSNBC on Friday morning: "We are now facing an existential threat to the security of the United States of America."

He said Mr Obama was to blame for the chaos because he did not secure agreement for a residual US force to remain in Iraq when "we had the conflict won".

Republican House Armed Services Committee Chairman Howard 'Buck' McKeon said in a statement: "The White House has a history of 'considering all options' while choosing none. 

"There are no quick fix solutions to this crisis and I will not support a one-shot strike that looks good for the cameras but has no enduring effect."

Republican House Speaker John Boehner said on Thursday the president was "taking a nap" while the rebels ran amok.

The Iraqi rebels want to establish a caliphate

The Iraqi government has been asking for over a year for more US help to combat the insurgency, which has been fanned by the civil war in neighbouring Syria. 

US officials have said Iraqi leaders made a fresh request this week for drones and manned aircraft.

The US is already understood to be flying drones over Iraq for intelligence purposes.

Hundreds of thousands of civilians have reportedly fled the violence

On Friday, two Navy destroyers equipped with Tomahawk missiles were in the Gulf, while the aircraft carrier USS George H W Bush and a Navy cruiser were in the northern Arabian Sea.

Three planeloads of Americans, mostly contractors and other civilians, have already been evacuated from a major Iraqi air base in Sunni territory north of Baghdad.

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Iraqis Told: 'Take Up Arms And Defend Country'

How Militants Are Making Use Of Social Media

Updated: 6:12pm UK, Friday 13 June 2014

By Tom Cheshire, Technology Correspondent

Social media has long been a weapon in militant organisations' arsenal. YouTube videos and Facebook pages have proved to be powerful propaganda tools.

ISIS is evolving the technique in Iraq.

First, they have mainly been using Twitter to post images and some video. Each region ISIS is active in has its own Twitter account, delivering daily updates.

Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi, who has been following ISIS's social media tactics from Oxford University, told Sky News the Twitter strategy was "very co-ordinated".

"ISIS's social media presence is particularly apparent on Twitter," Mr Al-Tamimi said. "They all follow each other.

"Really, the Iraq accounts follow on from the Syria accounts. Whereas last year, a lot more of the visual media output of the ISIS presence was coming from Syria, now in Iraq, since the renewal of the wider insurgency, they've been keen to advertise their presence with photos - particularly on Twitter."

Why Twitter? Well, it is extremely robust. If a Twitter account is taken down, it is very easy to set up another and transfer your followers.

Twitter also makes it easy for fighters to maintain personal accounts, and that is the other new spin.

Previously, propaganda was broadcast over YouTube. Now militants are using mobile messaging platforms like Kik and question and answer sites like Ask.fm to engage others more directly.

Shariz Maher, from the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation at Kings College, London, puts it like this: "When Jihadi groups tried to recruit in the past, they would release a video. It would be very well managed. They'd be saying 'come out here', they'd use ideological reasons, 'look what the West is doing, the Koran says this'. And it was packaged in this very sophisticated way.

"Out of Syria now with these guys who are just tweeting about their experiences, they're able to relate their fellow Britons on a one-to-one level.

"They're saying, 'look, I lived in East London, I'm from Tower Hamlets. Now look at me - I'm in Syria, I've got these cool tools, an RPG, a Kalashnkiov', and for a certain type of person that's very attractive."

The wider tech story of the past year has been about the rapid rise of mobile messaging apps like Kik and Whatsapp - popular because they offer a more direct, engaging experience than Facebook or YouTube.

It seems militants have been paying close attention, too.

However, it could be getting harder for them to take the advantage - there were reports on Friday that Iraq's communications ministry has ordered social media websites and apps to be shut down.

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World Cup Kicks Off With Parties And Protests

The World Cup in Brazil has kicked off with street parties celebrating the host nation's opening win and scattered protests over the huge costs of the event.

Millions of fans took to the streets as their side beat Croatia 3-1 in the tournament opener in Sao Paolo.

Parties continued late into the night with a heavy presence of police and troops to maintain order.

Brazil fans celebrate their team's victory

Tensions spilled over in a number of host cities following construction delays and months of unrest with many Brazilians furious over the $11bn spent on hosting the tournament.

There were violent clashes in Sao Paolo before and after the game.

Police fired stun grenades and tear gas to break up the protests and a number of people were injured.

Clashes were also witnessed in Rio de Janiero, Belo Horizonte, Porto Alegre and Brasilia.

A protester during clashes in Sao Paolo

It is hoped the mood of the country will be improved by their side's encouraging start to the tournament, with fans' favourite Neymar scoring twice.

"This joy will be a contagion that will spread to all Brazilians," one supporter said.

Another Brazil fan added: "The victory will improve the mood a bit. I'm against opportunistic protests.

"Now is not the time to protest during an international event. The problems like bad hospitals date from before the World Cup."

Despite fears over the stadium in Sao Paolo, which was completed six months late, the game passed without any major problems.

Neymar scored twice and it's hoped the result will ease tensions

A number of floodlights failed during the first half but the problem was resolved quickly.

President Dilma Rousseff, who has defended the World Cup against criticism ahead of her bid for re-election in October, was jeered by many in the stadium and by fans watching the game on big screens across the country.

After the final whistle Brazil's coach, Luiz Felipe Scolari, described the stadium as "incredible" and "fantastic".

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England Unfazed By World Cup Pitch Woes

World Cup: 11 Players You Need To Watch

Updated: 3:39pm UK, Thursday 12 June 2014

By Nick Powell, Sports Editor

Like the Grand National, the World Cup has become a great participation event in offices, clubs and schools.

Join the sweep, pick the top scorer, guess how far England will go, perhaps even have a bet.

So to help, here's a team of men who are probably not big names in your household or workplace - but might be in a month's time.

:: Thibos Courtois, goalkeeper (Belgium/Atletico Madrid)

Actually a Chelsea employee, but doing so well on loan at Atletico that his future has become a big debating point in the last few months.

If Belgium are to do as well as the bookies predict, then he is certain to have enhanced his reputation even further.

Italy's veteran keeper Gianluigi Buffon has picked him out as a man to watch - and he should know.

:: Mauricio Isla, attacking right-back (Chile/Juventus)

Older than some of his colleagues in this fabled team at the age 25 and with almost half a century of appearances for Chile behind him, he has a great chance to win more admirers of his charging runs down the right.

Chile are in the same group as Spain and Holland but do not rule out Isla helping dump one of those giants out at the first hurdle.

:: Raphael Varane, central defender (France/Real Madrid)

He has only played five times for France, but at 21 years old he is part of a badly needed new generation for the 1998 world champions.

Big and strong - not to mention fiery - he got involved in an altercation on the pitch with opposition boss Diego Simeone at the end of the Champions League final, in which his Real team beat city rivals Atletico Madrid.

Jose Mourinho says he's the world's best young defender.

:: Mats Hummels, central defender (Germany/Borussia Dortmund)

If Germany go a long way in the World Cup, Hummels has the potential to be one of the stars of the tournament.

A dominant figure who can play as well as block, he also has a memorable name and a girlfriend, Cathy Fischer, who has been described as Germany's top WAG.

:: Yuto Nagatomo, left-back (Japan/Inter Milan)

Nagatomo has talked ambitiously about Japan winning the World Cup. One day, perhaps. Although they did reach the last 16 in 2010.

If they are to do it again, he will need to be at his best, both in defence and marauding down the left.

:: Juan Cuadrado, midfield (Colombia/Fiorentina)

Top scorer from midfield for Fiorentina in the Italian League with 11 goals last season, Cuadrado was converted from a right-back and is already interesting many of Europe's top clubs.

There is every chance there will be a long queue at his agent's door after the World Cup.

:: William Carvalho, midfield (Portugal/Sporting Lisbon)

You thought Angola was not the place to look for football talent?

This young man from Luanda has to force his way into Portugal's team but he is big and powerful (think Manchester City's Yaya Toure) with a future to match.

:: Paul Pogba, midfield (France/Juventus)

Still only 21, he has been in the headlines since Sir Alex Ferguson decided he was not good enough for Manchester United.

His poise belies his years. Zinedine Zidane, a World Cup winner in 1998, says his young countryman will become one of Europe's best central midfielders.

:: Ciro Immobile, striker (Italy/Borussia Dortmund)

This guy could be huge and may even be the World Cup's top goalscorer - worth a punt at around 50-1 if you like a bet.

No one got more than him in Italy last season and he has just signed for Dortmund.

Mario Balotelli is the big name in the Italians' attack ... so far.

:: Carlos Bacca, striker (Colombia/Sevilla)

Now carrying a nation's goalscoring hopes on his shoulders after injury ruled out his more illustrious colleague, Radamel Falcao, but he is up to the task.

He scored four goals towards the end of the season for his Spanish club, the Europa League winners.

And Bacca has every chance of helping Colombia progress from a group that also includes Greece, Ivory Coast and Japan - therefore boosting his own reputation.

:: Joel Campbell, striker (Costa Rica/Arsenal)

You're going to hear plenty about Joel Campbell because he is a big threat to England's hopes of progress from Group D.

Arsenal have loaned him out for the last three seasons, most recently to Greek club Olympiakos, for whom he scored against Manchester United in the Champions League.

His mum told him to read Psalm 27 - "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?" - before matches and apparently he does so.

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Iraq: Tikrit Seized As Militants Surge South

Militants from an al Qaeda splinter group have launched a wave of attacks south of captured Mosul a day after more than 500,000 people fled the city.

Iraqi police said Sunni rebels from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) had seized control of Tikrit and freed hundreds of prisoners, AFP news agency reported.

Security sources cited by Reuters said the militants drove more than 60 vehicles into the city, occupying local government buildings and raising ISIS's black flag.

An estimated 500,000 people have fled Mosul and the surrounding area

The city, which is the hometown of former dictator Saddam Hussein, lies roughly halfway between the capital, Baghdad, and Mosul, which was taken on Tuesday.

Security sources said fighters drove into the town of Baiji in armed vehicles, setting fire to the court house and police station before freeing prisoners.

Local officials and residents said the militants later withdrew to surrounding villages after tribal leaders persuaded them not to take over the energy installations there.

Fighters wave their flag at the Sykes Picot Border. Pic: albaraka_news

A senior official from the Shia-led government said the production of crude oil in Iraq - which produces around 3.5 million barrels a day - could be affected after the attack on Baiji.

A series of suicide and car bombings across the country, including one in Baghdad, have killed more than 30 people.

Militants executed 10 soldiers and policemen near the town of Riyadh, 40 miles (60km) southwest of Kirkuk, after establishing a checkpoint, police sources said.

Insurgents have struck in Mosul, Baiji, Tikrit and Kirkuk

Security forces thwarted an assault on Samarra, which is just 70 miles (110km) north of Baghdad.

In Mosul, gunmen wearing military uniforms and black clothing have been guarding banks and government buildings and calling over loudspeakers for government employees to return to work.

The militants also seized the Turkish consulate in the second city and kidnapped the head of the diplomatic mission and 48 staff members, including family members and special forces.

People celebrate as fighters occupy Mosul. Pic: albaraka_news

The insurgents are also holding 31 Turkish truck drivers hostage at a power station there.

Turkey's foreign minister said Ankara will retaliate if any of its citizens are hurt.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki has asked parliament to declare a state of emergency that would grant him additional powers to tackle the crisis.

People queue at a border crossing into the Kurdistan region

Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said Baghdad will co-operate with Kurdish forces to "flush out these foreign fighters" and said Iraq's leaders have to unite to face a "mortal" threat.

Influential Shia cleric Moqtada al Sadr has called for the formation of militia units to help defend religious sites.

ISIS, which wants to create a Sunni Caliphate straddling the border between Iraq and Syria, has made serious gains in Iraq in the last year, seizing control of the city of Falluja and parts of Ramadi.

It was formed after a split with al Qaeda's international leader, Ayman al Zawahiri.

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Passport Backlog: Staff 'Told To Relax Checks'

Passport Service Cuts Hit Expat Applications

Updated: 12:14pm UK, Wednesday 11 June 2014

By Mark Stone, Asia Correspondent

The backlog and workload problems at the passport office are causing frustration and anger - not just for people based in the UK, but for Britons living all around the world.

Until a few years ago, British citizens living abroad could simply wander down to their embassy and apply for a passport. It would be issued within a day or two. Job done.

The system was then changed largely because passports had become more sophisticated - with biometric technology for security. Embassies didn't have the equipment to produce the new biometric passports.

So, regional offices were set up within certain embassies around the world. For those of us living here in Beijing, Hong Kong became the regional hub.

We could apply via the British Embassy in Beijing, the application would be sent to Hong Kong and the new passport would be issued there. A little more bureaucratic but still entirely workable.

But in December, "cost saving" measures were made to the application system. All regional offices were shut and Britons globally were told they must apply for their replacement passports in the UK.

They now have two options. Either they can travel to the UK and then apply for the "one-day" service. That could cost a huge amount in air fares.

The alternative is to send their application form, together with their old passport, to the UK Passport office in Liverpool - a process that the Passport Office says will take "at least six weeks".

That means that for at least six weeks the applicant is unable to leave wherever it is they live. For many, that's entirely impractical. For some, it will impact on their business.

With a bit of research and a half-hour long distance phone call to the passport office, I have discovered that it is possible to send a copy of your old passport rather than the original, but only in "exceptional circumstances" determined on a "case-by-case basis".

However, this leads to its own problems - the moment the new passport is issued (back in the UK) the old one (still in the hands of the applicant) is cancelled.

So in the time it takes to send the new one to the applicant overseas - several weeks - they are unable to travel because the passport they hold will be flagged as 'cancelled' at immigration.

Confusing? Frustrating? Certainly.

The stories we're hearing are mounting up - a British bride-to-be, living in Hong Kong, has been waiting for her replacement passport for eight weeks. She still doesn't have it. Her wedding, in Bali, is in two weeks.

A Briton living in South Africa who's taking a group of South African children to the World Cup, had been waiting 15 weeks.

A British businessman living in Hong Kong told us he'd waited 10 weeks. His new passport has just arrived but the passport office forgot to send back his old one which contained his visas. He is therefore still unable to travel.

The bottom line is this - not all that long ago, Britons living abroad could get a replacement passport in a day or two.

Now they are being grounded for "at least six weeks" and in many cases, far longer.

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England 'Should Sacrifice World Cup Over Blatter'

One of England's most famous footballers has said officials should stand up to Sepp Blatter, even if it costs the country any chance of staging the World Cup again.

Gary Lineker said sacrificing any future bid for the tournament by holding the Fifa president to account over corruption claims is a "price worth paying".

The former striker, who holds the record for the most number of goals scored by an English player at a World Cup finals, made his comments in a tweet after FA boss Greg Dyke urged Mr Blatter not to stand for re-election.

"Good that Dyke stood up to Blatter," the ex-Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur player wrote.

"If making a stand damages our chances of ever getting the World Cup, so be it. A price worth paying."

Gary Lineker played in two World Cups, including Mexico 1986

Allegations of corruption surrounding the 2022 World Cup in Qatar have overshadowed the build-up to this year's tournament, which gets under way in Brazil on Thursday.

It is claimed Qatar used its political connections and natural gas wealth to help win the right to host the event four years ago.

Mr Blatter, who is expected to confirm he will stand for a fifth term as president of football's world governing body later, claimed the comments were motivated by racism.

However, in an interview with Sky Sports News, Mr Dyke said: "The allegations being made are nothing to do with racism. They are allegations about corruption.

All the latest World Cup news and analysis on the Sky News Catch up service

"Fifa is a suspect organisation where there has been an awful lot of corruption."

Asked about the presidential election next year, he added: "It's probably time for change."

Uefa executive committee member David Gill also said the Fifa president should stand down next year.

"I think we need a full, frank and open debate about what Fifa needs going forward," he added.

Their comments were backed by Michael van Praag, the head of the Dutch football association, as the first signs of a revolt against Mr Blatter emerged.

"When people talk about Fifa, they talk about corruption (and) bribery," he said.

Qatar allegedly used its political and energy influence to win its bid

"Yes, Blatter is leading reforms but he was also in charge when it went wrong and he has to bear responsibility for that."

Sky Sports pundit and ex-Southampton midfielder Matt Le Tissier said Mr Blatter should "let someone with the best interests of football at heart take over", while several newspaper columnists came out in support of his critics.

Matt Lawton, chief sports writer at the Daily Mail, said: "Credit should go to Greg Dyke today for the way he stood up to Blatter here in Sao Paulo. One of only two who had the balls to do it."

The Daily Telegraph's Paul Hayward added: "Shame it took the media to force Uefa's hand."

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Blatter Row Intensifies On Eve Of World Cup

Under-fire Sepp Blatter is expected to ignore calls for him to step aside as Fifa president by confirming he will stand for re-election on the eve of the World Cup.

The head of football's world governing body has come in for fierce criticism, particularly in Britain, over allegations of corruption surrounding the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

But the 78-year-old did not appear to be a man under pressure when he took to stage at the opening gala of Fifa's annual congress.

Having accused the British press of racism, he danced on stage with a glamorous Brazilian model and declared he was in a "festive mood".

Mr Blatter shimmied on stage with Fernanda Lima at Fifa's annual congress

There is widespread backing for Mr Blatter's expected presidential candidacy among Fifa members, although support among representatives from Europe appears to be dwindling.

FA boss Greg Dyke said it was "probably time for change" when asked about next year's election, telling Sky Sports News: "Fifa is a suspect organisation where there has been an awful lot of corruption."

Michael van Praag, the head of the Dutch football association, and Uefa's David Gill have been similarly critical, while Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff appeared to snub Mr Blatter by skipping the gala.

The football-mad country is hoping for a good showing from the home side

The row over Mr Blatter's future, coupled with claims Qatar used its political connections and natural gas wealth to help win the right to host the World Cup four years ago, have overshadowed the build-up to this year's tournament, which gets under way in Brazil on Thursday.

Organisers have faced a race against time to finish the country's 12 host stadiums, where eight construction workers have been killed.

The cost of infrastructure improvements has spiralled, with many projects falling way behind schedule, not least in Sao Paulo, where a key monorail link will not be finished on time.

All the latest World Cup news and analysis on the Sky News catch up service

Part of the line collapsed on Monday, killing a man who had been helping build the extension.

A strike by subway staff in Sao Paulo, where Brazil face Croatia in the opening match, has further hampered preparations.

Workers, who have clashed with police in the city centre, have threatened to walk out again on the day the World Cup starts.

The cost of the staging the event has sparked further protests, with a recent poll suggesting two in five Brazilians think vital funds have been diverted from essential services like hospitals and schools.

Many of Brazil's key infrastructure projects have been beset by delays

Ms Rousseff, whose ratings are on the slide, tried to rally the nation in a pre-taped address, urging Brazilians to get behind their team.

"Brazil is ready on and off the pitch," she added.

"The pessimists ... have been defeated by the hard work and determination of the Brazilian people, who never give up."

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Rik Mayall: Comedian And Actor Dies Aged 56

Rik Mayall's Memorable Lines

Updated: 5:50pm UK, Monday 09 June 2014

Rik Mayall, who has died aged 56, starred in a host of comedy productions. Here are some of his most memorable lines and scenes:

:: As Lord Flashheart in Blackadder II:

(To Baldrick [Sir Tony Robinson], dressed in drag as a bridesmaid): "Thanks bridesmaid, like the beard. Gives me something to hang on to!"

:: As hero pilot Squadron Leader Lord Flashheart in Blackadder Goes Forth (1989)

Flashheart: All right men, let's do-oo-oo it! The first thing to remember is: always treat your kite [taps chalkboard picture of a biplane] like you treat your woman [whips the air with his cane]

Lieutenant George (Hugh Laurie) : How, how do you mean, Sir? Do you mean, do you mean take her home at weekends to meet your mother?

Lord Flashheart: No, I mean get inside her five times a day and take her to heaven and back.

Captain Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson): I'm beginning to see why the suffragette movement want the vote.

Lord Flashheart: Hey! Any girl who wants to chain herself to my railings and suffer a jet movement gets my vote!

"Captain Darling? Last person I called darling was pregnant 20 seconds later."

:: As Alan B'Stard in The New Statesman (1987 - 1992)

"Why should we, the country that produced Shakespeare, Christopher Wren, and those are just the people on our banknotes for Christ's sake, cower down to the countries that produced Hitler, Napoleon, the Mafia, and the the the, the the the, the the the Smurfs! Remember my friends, God is dead. Marx is also dead. But the market lives.The market must become your new God."

:: As Richard "Richie" Richard in Bottom (1991 - 1995)

Richie: Some people are short-tempered, aren't they?

Eddie Hitler (Adrian Edmondson): Yeah, well, about four or five thousand of 'em, by the looks of things.

Richie: Yeah. But it's wonderful, though, Eddie. I mean, look. All the local communities are out there, on the streets.

Eddie: Beating the shit out of each other.

Richie: Yeah! Oh, I love carnival time. Oh, look at that policeman over there!

Eddie: Which one?

Richie: The one jumping up and down, waving his arms.

Eddie: The one that's on fire?

Richie: Yeah!

Source: IMDB

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Campaigners Demand End To War Zone Rapes

By Rachel Younger, Sky News Correspondent

Campaigners against rape in war are gathering in London in an attempt to bring those responsible for 220 million sex crimes every year to justice.

Actress Angelina Jolie is co-hosting the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict with Foreign Secretary William Hague.

It promises to be the largest ever gathering of its kind, with more than 140 countries taking part.

The aim is to make sexual violence in war zones as unacceptable as chemical weapons and cluster munitions.

Every year, 150 million girls and women are raped in conflict around the world, along with 70 million men and boys, and the overwhelming majority of them never get justice.

Angelina Jolie and William Hague are co-hosting the London summit

Mr Hague told Sky News: "This is an unacceptable crime practiced on a vast scale.

"What we're trying to achieve is standards on documentation so that people don't get away with it."

Under the UK's presidency, the G8 last year declared rape and serious sexual violence in conflict as grave breaches of the Geneva Convention, as well as war crimes.

Some 144 world governments have now endorsed the declaration.

The London Summit wants to seize that momentum and turn it into practical action to prevent rape and help victims.

One of the speakers will be Poline Akello, who was abducted from her home in Uganda when she was just 14.

Poline Akello was abducted from her home in Uganda and raped

Forced by the army of notorious warlord Joseph Kony to become a child soldier, she survived six years in the bush where she was given to one of Kony's commanders.

"I knew it wasn't the right time for me," she said. "My body wasn't mature enough but they took my virginity."

Poline became pregnant but her baby did not survive and she was not allowed to hold or bury her child.

"I wasn't allowed to mourn," she said. "If you cried, they would kill you."

Rob Williams, the director of Warchild, a charity set up to help children affected by war, said: "When you see emergencies on television, you see the food, health and shelter crises.

"What you are not seeing are the hidden dangers of fleeing from conflict - the armed groups looking for people to rape, or the deeply traumatised civilian groups where the worst aspects of human behaviour come out.

"It will not always be men in uniform, it will not always be used as a weapon of war and it will not always be against women."

The summit, which is being held at ExCeL London, will run until Thursday and includes dozens of free events which will be open to the public.

Around 200 foreign, defence and development ministers have been invited to attend, along with experts from courts, charities and the military.

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Karachi Airport Terrorist Attack: 13 Dead

At least 13 people have been killed after gunmen disguised as police guards attacked a terminal at Pakistan's Karachi international airport, say officials.

Militants armed with automatic weapons and grenades stormed the airport before midnight and became engaged in a six-hour firefight with security personnel.

Three of those killed were airport security staff, and two others were civilian employees of Pakistan International Airlines.

Television footage showed what appeared to be a major fire and plumes of smoke rising from the runway where planes are parked.

Heavy gunfire and multiple explosions could be heard coming from the terminal as authorities scrambled to secure the area.

The attack sparked an intense battle. Soldiers joined police officers in fighting the militants

Troops joined the firefight after the major security breach

The terminal targeted by the fighters was said to be used for VIPs and cargo.

All flights are currently suspended "and have been diverted to other cities", a civil aviation authority spokesman said.

Pakistan's military spokesman Major General Asim Bajwa confirmed an end to operation, saying: "Update: Area cleared. No damage to aircraft, fire visible in pics was not plane but a building, now extinguished. All vital assets intact."

Maj Gen Bajwa added that a total of 10 militants were killed in clashes with security forces, and that ammunition, rockets and grenades were recovered from the attackers.

"Precautionary sweep after day light. Airport will be cleared by mid day for operations, handed back to CAA (Civil Aviation Authority)/ASF (Airport Security Force). Pakistan Zindabad (long live Pakistan)!" he later tweeted.

Karachi is Pakistan's largest city and has been the site of frequent militant attacks in the past.

While no one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, Pakistan's government has been trying to negotiate a peace deal with militants based mainly in the northwest of the country.

More follows...

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Five Dead After Las Vegas Pizza Shop Shooting

Three people, including two police officers, have been shot dead by attackers who turned their guns on themselves in a Las Vegas supermarket.

Police said the officers, named as Alyn Beck, 42, and Igor Soldo, 32, were ambushed and shot at point-blank range as they ate lunch at CiCi's Pizza restaurant.

The two suspects, a man and a woman, then fled to a Walmart across the street where they killed a third person before taking their own lives.

A local newspaper, the Las Vegas Sun, reported the attackers took the officers' ammunition before running inside the supermarket.

Larry Hadfield, a spokesman for the Las Vegas Metro Police Department, said that before opening fire, one of the suspects shouted: "This is a revolution."

"We don't know anything about the suspects yet and are trying to learn more," he said.

The officers were shot dead at point-blank range as they ate lunch

Governor Brian Sandoval said he was "devastated" by what he called "an act of senseless violence", while Sheriff Doug Gillespie added: "It's a tragic day. We have a community to protect and we'll do it with our heads held high."

Mayra Calvillo told the Las Vegas Sun she was working inside the Walmart when she heard someone yelling for people to leave.

She said she saw a man with a handgun raised in the air fire at least one round.

Police officers outside the Walmart store on North Nellis Boulevard

Another shopper described a scene of pandemonium inside the store as people ran towards emergency exits.

Both the pizza restaurant and the Walmart store remained closed while detectives carried out forensic investigations.

A Walmart spokesman said: "We express our deepest condolences to everyone who has been affected."

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Extremism Row: Gove Sorry As May Aide Quits

Education Secretary Michael Gove has been forced to apologise, while Theresa May's special adviser has quit in the public feud over the handling of alleged extremism in schools.

Mrs May's aide Fiona Cunningham resigned following the investigation ordered by Prime Minister David Cameron into the dispute between two of his most senior ministers.

And Mr Gove has written to apologise to Charles Farr, the director general of the Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism, and the Prime Minister "in acknowledgement of his role" in the row, which saw the Education Secretary's camp and Mrs May's side at loggerheads.

Fiona Cunningham has resigned after an investigation into the row

The rift became public after quotes attributed to a Department for Education source in The Times detailed Mr Gove's concerns about the Home Office's approach to tackling extremism.

In response, a letter was released from the Home Secretary to the Education Secretary which questioned his department's handling of the Islamist "Trojan horse" allegations in Birmingham schools, despite warnings dating back to 2010.

A source said: "Why is the DfE wanting to blame other people for information they had in 2010? Lord knows what more they have overlooked on the subject of the protection of kids in state schools? It scares me."

Mr Cameron was said to be "deeply frustrated" at the dispute, particularly the way it broke on the day of the Queen's Speech.

A Downing Street spokesman said: "In relation to unauthorised comments to the media about the Government's approach to tackling extremism and the improper release of correspondence between Ministers, the Prime Minister has received the Cabinet Secretary's review establishing the facts behind these events.

"In acknowledgement of his role, today, the Secretary of State for Education has written separately to Charles Farr and the Prime Minister apologising for the original comments made to the Times newspaper.

"In addition, in relation to further comments to the Times, Fiona Cunningham has today resigned."

Some 21 schools in Birmingham have been the subject of an Ofsted investigation after a letter referred to an alleged plot by hardline Muslims to seize control of governing boards in the city.

Ofsted will publish the findings of its investigation on Monday, with one of the schools expected to be found as "inadequate", with its management strongly criticised by inspectors.

Mr Gove is also to make a statement in the Commons, where he is set to face some uncomfortable questions from Labour which has seized on the spat, and accused the Government of "gross negligence" for failing to tackle the issue of extremism in schools.

Shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt said: "Michael Gove should be apologising to pupils and parents, not David Cameron. He was warned of the problems in Birmingham four years ago.

"Michael Gove can no longer seek to distance himself from the mess that he has created. He must explain in full what he knew about the warnings he was given in 2010."

Ahead of his apology, Mr Gove had earlier denied the row with Mrs May had damaged the Government, or that he was considering his position over his department's handling of the Birmingham allegations.

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Qatar World Cup Bid: New Corruption Claims

By Paul Kelso, Sports Correspondent, in Sao Paulo

Qatar deployed its political connections and natural gas wealth to help win the 2022 World Cup, according to allegations published by the Sunday Times.

For the second week running the newspaper has published details of meetings and deals that it claims demonstrate former Fifa executive committee member Mohamed Bin Hammam broke bid rules as he lobbied on behalf of his country's bid.

The Qatar bid deny that Mr Bin Hammam, since banned for life from football, was directly linked to the bid or worked on their behalf.

Fifa sponsor Sony has called on Fifa to investigate the allegations thoroughly.

Qatar deny Bin Hammam was linked to the bid or worked on their behalf

"As a Fifa partner, we expect these allegations to be investigated appropriately," the company said in a statement to The Sunday Times.

"We continue to expect Fifa to adhere to its principles of integrity, ethics and fair play across all aspects of its operations."

The latest allegations, gleaned from millions of documents in the possession of the newspaper, suggest Mr Bin Hammam was in contact with bid officials as he brokered meetings between senior Fifa officials and the Emir of Qatar.

The newspaper alleges Mr Bin Hammam met Vladimir Putin, then the Russian prime minister, weeks before the vote in December 2010, to discuss "bilateral sporting relations".

Putin was backing Russia's 2018 World Cup bid, which beat England on the way to winning the right to host the tournament.

Fifa's Sepp Blatter declined to comment on the matter on Saturday

It also alleges Mr Bin Hammam helped broker a natural gas deal between his country and Thailand.

It reports that an advisor to Fifa executive committee member Worawi Makudi met senior Qatari energy officials to discuss a deal.

Asked by Sky News if he was concerned about the allegation Mr Makudi said: "No, not at all."

The Sunday Times also claims Mr Bin Hammam brokered meetings between the Emir and nine senior Fifa executive committee members, and distributed £1.7m from a slush-fund to Asian football officials.

It says its latest disclosures prove that Mr Bin Hammam was actively working for the Qatar bid.

Qatar re-stated the denial issued last week after the newspaper alleged that Mr Bin Hammam paid around £3m in bribes to African football officials.

Qatar won the right to host the World Cup in 2010

"The Qatar 2022 Bid Committee always upheld the highest standard of ethics and integrity in its successful bid to host the 2022 Fifa World Cup.

"In regard to the latest allegations from The Sunday Times, we say again that Mohamed Bin Hammam played no official or unofficial role in Qatar's 2022 Bid Committee."

Fifa President Sepp Blatter declined to comment on the matter as a meeting of the executive committee concluded in Sao Paulo on Saturday evening.

World football's governing body has charged US attorney Michael Garcia with investigating the allegations, and he will not report until after the World Cup.

Mr Garcia will be in Sao Paulo this week to discuss his investigation with Fifa officials.

He is also expected to attend the Fifa Congress starting on Tuesday.

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