Obama says Iraq took 'promising step' nominating new PM

US President Barack Obama has said the nomination of Haider al-Abadi as Iraq's prime minister-designate is a "promising step forward," the BBC reported.

He acknowledged that Iraq had been through "difficult days," and urged its political leaders to work together.

Earlier on Monday, Iraq's president asked Mr Abadi to form a new government, snubbing the incumbent Prime Minister Nouri Maliki.

Mr Maliki said Mr Abadi's nomination was a "violation of the constitution."

Speaking from his holiday retreat in Martha's Vineyard, Mr Obama said US forces had successfully carried out air strikes to prevent the advance of Islamist militants in northern Iraq.

But Mr Obama said there was no American military solution to the crisis - and that only an inclusive Iraqi government could unify the fight against the Islamists.

Militants from the Islamic State (IS) group have made substantial gains in northern Iraq in recent months, forcing tens of thousands of people from religious minorities to flee their homes.

As well as the air strikes, the US has conducted air drops of essential supplies to Yazidi people stuck on a mountain range.

Over the last four nights, US and UK air crews have flown 14 successful missions, air dropping more than 310 bundles of food, water and medical supplies, and delivering almost 16,000 gallons of water and 75,000 meals, the US government says.

The US has also begun supplying weapons to the Kurdish Peshmergas, who are fighting the militants, senior US officials have told the Associated Press.