France to join US in arming Kurds in Iraq: Hollande

France will join the US in sending weapons to Kurdish forces fighting Islamic militants in Iraq, President Francois Hollande announced on Wednesday.

"In order to respond to the urgent need expressed by the Kurdistan regional authorities, the president has decided, in agreement with Baghdad, to deliver arms in the coming hours," Hollande's office said in a statement.

"France intends to play an active role by providing, along with its partners and in liaison with the new Iraqi authorities, all the assistance required," the statement added.

Over the weekend, Paris already provided 18 tonnes of humanitarian aid and a new shipment of 20 tonnes of aid was due to arrive in northern Iraq later Wednesday.

Hollande reiterated France's support for Iraq's premier designate Haidar al-Abadi and urged a "unity government, representing all Iraqis to fight effectively against Islamic State."

Cameron cuts off holiday

Shortly after France's announcement, UK Prime Minister David Cameron's office announced that he had cut his holiday in Portugal in order to oversee the government's reponse to the Iraq crisis.

Cameron will reportedly chair an emergency Cobra meeting scheduled for 1200 GMT on Thursday to discuss Iraq, The Guardian reported.

Cameron's return follows criticism from Tory MPs, as well as the Labour Party, earlier this week of the prime minister relaxing while RAF crews were conducting dangerous missions to drop humanitarian supplies for Iraqis stranded on Mount Sinjar.

On Tuesday, former UK Defence Secretary Liam Fox called on Cameron to sanction UK military activity in Iraq and accused western politicians of "catastrophic complaceny" over the crisis.

"Sending humanitarian aid is right but if we are leaving the vulnerable unprotected from the military terror of the Isis forces then our help is superficial," Fox wrote in the Daily Mail. 

Ashton prepared to call EU meeting

France has also been pushing for days for an emergency meeting of EU foreign ministers to coordinate a European response to the crisis in Iraq, notably in terms of delivering arms.

EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton announced on Wednesday that she was prepared to convene such a meeting "as early as this week" and was checking with member states whether this was possible.

On Tuesday, Britain said it would transport military supplies from Jordan to Kurdish forces battling the militants amid Western fears the crisis could spread throughout the region.

The United States has already said it was rushing weapons to the Kurdish forces and has carried out air strikes over the past week to halt the advance of the militants, but has ruled out sending combat troops as has Britain.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said on Tuesday that his country would not rule out greater military involvement in Iraq.

"Australian aircraft will shortly be joining the humanitarian airlift and airdrop to the Mount Sinjar region and we are consulting with our partners including the United States, including the United Kingdom, about what further assistance Australia can give," Abbott said from London after security talks.