BAGHDAD (AFP) - The formation of a "broad unity government" in Iraq is critical to fighting jihadist expansion, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on Sunday in Baghdad.

"In this time, Iraq particularly needs a broad-based unity government because all Iraqis need to feel represented to wage the fight against terrorism together," he said.

He was speaking after a meeting with Iraq's deputy prime minister and acting foreign minister, Hussein al-Shahristani, before heading north to Arbil to oversee the delivery of French aid to displaced civilians.