DHAKA: US Secretary of State John Kerry has reassured Iraq’s new leader that there will be an international strategy to defeat Islamic State (IS) militants.

Kerry, on a Middle East tour, said US president Barack Obama would outline the strategy later, reports the BBC.

He praised PM Haidar al-Abadi’s plans to devolve powers to Iraq’s minorities and reform the military.

IS overran the army in many parts of northern Iraq, and gained backing from some disaffected Sunnis

Meanwhile, at least nine people died in a series of car bombs in east Baghdad.

The explosions happened minutes apart in the Shia neighborhood of New Baghdad. At least 25 others were injured.

Kerry made an unannounced visit to the Iraqi capital Baghdad at the start of a tour of Middle Eastern capitals aimed at boosting military, political and financial support for the fight against IS.

Abadi asked for international support to defeat the ‘cancer’ of IS.

‘Of course, our role is to defend our country, but the international community is responsible to protect Iraq,’ he said after meeting Kerry.

BDST: 2026 HRS, SEP 10, 2014