UN chief Ban Ki-moon warns against military strikes on ISIS in Iraq

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has warned that any possible military strikes against Sunni militants in Iraq could be ineffective and backfire or even be counter productive if there is no movement towards inclusive government in Iraq.

During a speech to the Asia Society on Syria, he denounced sectarian fighting and the reprisals that follow, urging the Iraqi government and its supporters not to retaliate against Sunni communities in revenge for attacks by the Al-Qaida-inspired Islamic State of Iraq and the Syria (ISIS).

According to Xinhua news agency, Ki-moon said that the extremist group is trying to show that the governments in Baghdad, Iran, and the United States are working together to support atrocities against Sunnis and mobilize support from the Sunni majority that do not share the extremists' agenda.

He also revealed that arms and fighters have crossed the porous border between Syria and Iraq and urged religious and political leaders from the region to call for restraint and avoid further sectarian violence.

The US has deployed 300 military advisors after Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al- Maliki formally called on the US to launch air strikes against ISIS militants who have captured several key cities over the past week.