[Lu Stout:] You're watching News Stream. A little bit later in the show we will return to the legacy of Robin Williams. But first, let's go to Iraq. Now the U.S. has welcomed the nomination of Haider al-Abadi to be Iraq's next prime minister. Now the U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is urging al-Abadi to quicky form a unity government to help the country come together and defeat ISIS militants. But the incumbent Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki calls the nomination a constitutional violation and has declared the appointment null and void. Now the UN is calling for urgent action to stop what it calls a mass tragedy unfolding in northern Iraq. A senior Kurdish official says tens of thousands of civilians may still be trapped on Mount Sinjar. Now the UN says the Yazidis, a religious minority, are at immediate risk of death by starvation or slaughter by ISIS militants. Now CNN's Ivan Watson joined an Iraqi helicopter mission to Mount Sinjar and witnessed the fear and desperation there firsthand.
[Ivan Watson, Cnn Correspondent:] Machine gunners unleashed bursts of hot metal. This is the crew aboard an Iraqi Air Force helicopter. They burn through cartridges and belts of ammunition while rushing an aircraft full of food, diapers, water and baby's milk over ISIS front lines to the civilians trapped on Sinjar mountain.
[Watson:] They are opening fire at targets down below. [inaudible] They're clearly trying to defend the aircraft. You can see the people below trapped on Sinjar mountain. They're clustered under olive trees right now, waving to us. They seem to have gathered in these shelters down here. A lot of women and children waving. The crew hurls packages out the door. People swarm the chopper. [on camera]: This has been one chaotic aid distribution. I mean, I really hope he didn't hurt anybody with the bottles of water we were throwing down from the height of 20, 30 feet. Its chaotic, but people were waving. They were giving thumbs up. And there are a couple people very relieved to be off the mountain and clearly very, very frightened. [voice-over]: Then the helicopter lands one last time to pick up more passengers. [on camera]: Here they come. [voice-over]: More desperate people throw themselves at the aircraft. Heaving their children on board. It's first come, first served. There were some who couldn't make it. Aboard the aircraft, shock. Exhaustion. Fear that eventually gives way to relief.? [on camera] I can't describe to you how relieved people are right now. They're just shocked and the chaos of that moment. But we have little Aziza here, she's not happy because she says her father got left behind. The gunners are opening fire on targets below. They're protecting the helicopter. But it's terrifying these little kids who are traumatized after their week trapped on that mountain. The problem is we're flying over ISIS front lines. This is the only protection we have right now to protect the aircraft and its precious cargo. [voice-over] Tensions ease when we cross into Kurdish controlled territory. For a moment, there are even smiles as these children realize their ordeal on the mountain is finally over. Ivan Watson, CNN, over Sinjar Mountain in Northern Iraq.
[Lu Stout:] It was really gripping and stirring to watch the raw human emotion there in that story. Now as rescue efforts continue in the north, political tensions are growing in the capital of Baghdad. CNN's Nick Paton Walsh is there for us. He joins us live. And Nick, Haider al-Abadi, can he make a workable government for Iraq?
[Nick Paton Walsh, Cnn International Correspondent:] Well, he faces the hurdles of, of course, Iraq's fractious parliament, but there does seem to be adequate support, at least for his nomination to suggest he may have some kind of chance in the 30 days ahead to create a cabinet and get it approved by the legislation here. That's something that John Kerry as U.S. secretary of state has urged him to do as quickly as possible. But the big hurdle, of course is Nuri al-Maliki. He is sounding very pugilistic, really not desiring to step back in any hurry at all and of course has the option potentially to try and muster security forces here in some degree to forcibly keep him in power. He's also talked about mounting constitutional challenges through the court. That, itself, has [inaudible] for the constitution is not even 10 years old here, so it's hardly been tested by the framework of laws. A very I think quietly tense day here in Baghdad, the political elite trying to work out quite what comes next. And a lot really handing on Nuri al-Maliki's next word. He is shunning a lot of his allies, not paying much attention to higher Shia religious authorities and their calls for moderation and the lack of personal ambition in the days ahead, and also the United States now warning him very clearly not to attempt to use force to stay in power Kristie.
[Lu Stout:] And Nick, from the political struggle in Iraq to the military struggle there, the United States has agreed to arm the Kurds. What difference will that make in the battle against ISIS militants?
[Walsh:] Well, it will certainly mean hopefully they won't run out of ammunition when they confront ISIS militants on the various front lines around there. But at the end of the day ISIS are so extraordinarily ruthless and extremist that many forces who confront them find it extraordinarily difficult to battle against a foe who simply want to die in combat, part of their religious duty or honor. So, yes, weapons will certainly I think many in the Kurdish areas hope stem the ISIS advance along with U.S. air strikes too. It has to be a more fundamental change in Iraq where as many hope perhaps a new prime minister can galvanize a national unity government representing all different sectarian groups in this country. And the ultimate goal to perhaps make those Sunnis who have so far given solace, or at least ground to operate for ISIS in the north of the country and elsewhere perhaps change heart, see a future, maybe, in the central government. But these are extraordinarily complex asks after years of sectarian division, the chaos simply spiraling out of control rather than seeing itself slow. Every morning you seem to wake to a new form of crisis there, Kristie.
[Lu Stout:] And also the humanitarian mission there in Iraq, fears are still growing for the besieged Yazidi community. We watch that dramatic helicopter rescue of some of the stranded, but is more help on the way?
[Walsh:] Yes. The United States is dropping what it can. 16,000 food pallets, if I remember correctly. A lot of cargo planes in the air. The British dropping reusable water bottles and also a little solar lamps they say that can help recharge mobile phones, perhaps giving those trapped some sense of solace. Maybe it's better to communicate with the outside world, at least. But we are talking about tens of thousands of people trapped in that geographical oddity, the Sinjar Mountains. And of course ISIS nearby held perhaps in bay by 15 U.S. airstrikes, if I remember correctly yesterday as American officials announce. But it's a mammoth job to hold the sort of extremist militancy of ISIS at bay with its goal of tackling, killing many of these Yazidis, and a very hard task for some of them to walk out on foot, or as you saw in Ivan's piece there, get the very rare and limited seats out on helicopters. The weather here punishing, the conditions lethal, and still thousands trapped and unable to get help Kristie.
[Lu Stout:] CNN's Nick Paton Walsh reporting live in Baghdad, thank you. You're watching News Stream. And coming up next, this 7-year-old son of an Australian terrorist caught up in a fight beyond his years. And now, a disturbing photo posted by his father is drawing strong condemnation from around the world. That photo and the details when we come back.