Islamic State captures another town in Iraqi upheaval

(Vatican Radio/wires) – In Iraq early Monday, Islamic State militants captured the town of Jalawla northeast of Baghdad.  The militants took over the town at dawn, following weeks of clashes with Kurdish fighters. 

The seizure of Jalawla, 115 km (70 miles) from the Iraqi capital, came a day after a suicide bomber killed 10 Kurdish fighters there. The militants also took control of two nearby villages.

Meanwhile, Iraq's embattled Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has announced he will file a legal complaint against the country's newly elected president.

In a televised speech after midnight Sunday, al-Maliki declared he will file a legal complaint against the new president, Fouad Massoum, for committing ``a clear constitutional violation.''

The prime minister said the president, who was elected by parliament, is obstructing al-Maliki's re-election and has carried out ``a coup against the constitution and the political process.''  He accused Massoum of neglecting to name a prime minister by Sunday's deadline.

The late-night speech was al-Maliki's first since U.S. forces launched airstrikes on ISIS positions and carried out humanitarian airdrops in Iraq last week. A parliament session scheduled for Monday to discuss the nomination of the new prime minister was postponed until Aug. 19.

In a sign of rising tensions, Iraqi special forces loyal to al-Maliki were deployed at Baghdad's main intersections on Monday, police officials said. Two of the capital's main streets were partially closed as hundreds of al-Maliki's supporters took to the streets.

The government also enforced a heightened security alert across the city on Monday.

Speaking to reporters in Sydney, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said his government stands ``absolutely squarely behind President Massoum,'' and called on Iraqis to be ``calm.''