In brief: Ukraine urges countries to keep Russian sanctions

UNITED NATIONS – Ukraine’s prime minister on Wednesday urged countries not to lift sanctions against Russia until his country regains control over its entire territory, including Crimea.

Ending a day of intense discussions over the growing global threat of extremist groups, Arseniy Yatsenyuk told the annual U.N. General Assembly of world leaders that “we know what terrorism means.”

He demanded that Russia pull back its forces from eastern Ukraine, “stop the supply of Russian-led terrorists” and start “real talks, peace talks.”

The monthslong fighting between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian forces has been another major theme of speeches at the global assembly this week.

British PM to seek approval to join in airstrikes on ISIS

UNITED NATIONS – The British prime minister said he will ask Parliament to approve joining international airstrikes against the Islamic State group in Iraq.

David Cameron announced the move in his address to the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday.

Cameron did not mention the prospect of also joining the U.S.-led international airstrikes against the Islamic State in Syria that began this week.

Turkey: Nations aren’t stopping foreign fighters

UNITED NATIONS – The president of Turkey on Wednesday accused the international community of doing too little to stem the flow of foreign fighters to Syria and slammed the U.N. Security Council’s inaction on some of the world’s most pressing issues.

In two separate speeches in New York, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey was playing a leading role in fighting terrorism but was not being aided by the rest of the world.

But Turkey, a key backer of the rebels seeking to oust Syrian President Bashar Assad, is under scrutiny for allowing thousands of fighters to cross into Syria across its borders.

U.S. intelligence officials estimate some 12,000 foreigners have traveled to Syria and Iraq to join the Islamic State group, which has as many as 31,000 fighters.

Dutch to send air support against Islamic State

THE HAGUE, Netherlands – The Dutch government is sending six F-16 fighter jets to strike at the Islamic State extremist group in Iraq, Deputy Prime Minister Lodewijk Asscher announced Wednesday.

The Cabinet met for hours behind closed doors before approving the deployment of six planes and two reserve jets along with 250 pilots and support staff. The Dutch also will send about 130 military trainers to Iraq to school Iraqi and Kurdish fighters battling the Islamic State on the ground.

Sunni militants kill 19 Shiites in Baghdad ambush

BAGHDAD – Sunni militants killed 19 Shiite militiamen in an ambush north of Baghdad on Wednesday, officials said.

Police officials said fighters from the Islamic State extremist group hiding in orchards opened fire with machine-guns on a convoy of Shiite militiamen traveling on a road in Babilan village. They said 39 other people were wounded in the attack.

Babilan is about 60 miles north of Baghdad.

Czech leader gets threats for helping in ISIS fight

PRAGUE – Czech President Milos Zeman said his office has received a threatening letter protesting his government’s decision to help Kurdish forces in Iraq fight the Islamic State.

Interior Minister Milan Chovanec said police experts are analyzing a white powder that was contained in the letter, which was delivered to Zeman’s office Wednesday.

Zeman, an outspoken critic of the Islamic State militants, was on a trip to the eastern Czech Republic at the time.

His country is not participating in the airstrikes that the U.S. and other countries are conducting against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. But the Czech Republic has sent the Kurdish military in Iraq 500 metric tons of ammunition and plans to help train Kurdish police there.

Mexico to rejoin U.N. peacekeeping missions

UNITED NATIONS – Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto announced Wednesday that his country has decided to participate in U.N. peacekeeping missions again for the first time in decades.

That includes the possibility of sending military personnel, more than 60 years since the last time they were included on such missions.

“With this determination, Mexico, as a responsible actor, takes a historic step in its commitment to the United Nations,” Pena Nieto said.

He said Mexico “supports and values peacekeeping operations, a U.N. instrument that helps countries overcome conflicts and create conditions for lasting peace.”