Iraq's parliament will hold an emergency meeting on Thursday to discuss ongoing "security chaos" in the northern city of Mosul and across the country.
"The parliamentary leadership has invited lawmakers to hold an emergency Thursday session to discuss the repercussions of the security collapse in Iraq," parliamentary rapporteur Mohamed al-Khalidi told Anadolu Agency on Tuesday.
He said parliament would discuss a request by the presidency and premiership to declare a national state of emergency.
Outgoing Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said earlier Tuesday that Iraq had been placed on "maximum alert" after militants seized control of Mosul, the country's second-largest city.
Security forces had withdrawn from their positions as militants from the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) captured Mosul, the provincial capital of Iraq's Nineveh province.
Parliament must approve any request to declare a state of emergency.
Iraq has seen a marked uptick in violence in recent months, which the government blames on the ISIL, claiming the group has links with Al-Qaeda.
By Adnan Jassim
englishnews@aa.com.tr
www.aa.com.tr/en
