Middle East: Kurds fear Isis use of chemical weapon in Kobani - by Emma Graham-Harrison

Kurds battling Islamic State militants for control of Kobani fear the extremist group may have used an unidentified chemical weapon, according to officials and one of the few doctors still working in the besieged Syrian town.

Patients with blisters, burning eyes and breathing difficulties turned up at a clinic after a blast was heard on Tuesday evening, Dr Walat Omar said. He described the symptoms as abnormal and said he could not identify their cause, but suspected a chemical weapon.

“After a loud explosion [on Tuesday night], we received some patients with abnormal symptoms. They reported a bad smell which produced some kind of allergic reaction,” Omar said in a telephone interview that was periodically disrupted by heavy explosions.


Read more: Kurds fear Isis use of chemical weapon in Kobani | World news | The Guardian

The Netherlands: Kurdish Protesters Occupy Dutch Parliament

Hundreds of Kurdish protesters have occupied the Dutch Parliament building and are calling for more action to combat the Islamic State terror group.

The official Twitter feed of The Hague police says the demonstration late Monday is peaceful and that officers are in talks with the protest leaders. Police advised the public not to go to the square outside Parliament.

National broadcaster NOS posted video on its website showing chanting protesters inside the Parliament building holding a banner that said in Dutch "Stop the silence. Support Kobani," a reference to the Syrian town close to the Turkish border that was under attack Monday by Islamic State fighters.

Note EU-Digest: Hopefully Mr. Rutte called Mr.Erdogan and asked him why he is sitting on his hands instead of using all the tanks he lined up on the Turkish border facing Kobani  ?

 Read MoreKurdish Protesters Occupy Dutch Parliament - ABC News