Kerry sent to Mid East for Iraq talks

Iraqis mourning the deaths of 31 relatives.

In a mosque in the northern Shi'ite town of Tuz Khurmato they pray for their dead.

They say their loved ones -- men, women and the elderly -- were killed by the militant Sunni group ISIL in an assault on three villages.

Scenes like this are being repeated across much of northern Iraq.

Since the Islamic movement seized a number of towns and cities in the past week there's been fierce fighting and heavy bloodshed.

The relatives here say ISIL fighters attacked first with mortars before setting light to houses and killing residents.

The USA is sending Secretary of State John Kerry to Europe and the Middle East for talks to help stabilise the region

The US, which is also despatching up to 300 military advisers to Iraq, is urging the Shia-led Iraqi government to be more inclusive.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN KERRY SAYING:

"Make no mistake, ISIL is a threat to Iraq and the