British aid plane takes off for Iraq

A cargo plane has left RAF Brize Norton carrying British humanitarian aid to Iraq, the BBC understands. The aid drops are part of an £8m package of aid announced by the UK government. Members of the Yazidi community trapped on a mountainside in northern Iraq will be among those to receive assistance. It comes as the government's emergency Cobra committee prepares to meet to discuss the response to the conflict in Iraq. The BBC understands the meeting will be chaired by Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond. It is understood talks will focus on the humanitarian aid effort announced by the government on Friday. There is also likely to be a broader discussion about the situation in Iraq.