IRAQI Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi criticised the US-led international coalition against Islamic State (Isis) today and urged “further acceleration” in assistance for his forces.

He said that the armed forces need three years to rebuild — but this did not mean that the fight against Isis would last that long, he added.

“The most difficult thing is to restructure and rebuild the army while you are in a state of war.”

“Our aim is to create a balance between both — restructuring the army in a way that will not affect the fighting,” he said.

The ability of Iraq’s troops to control and retake territory from Isis depends on the steps Baghdad takes to restructure the army.

Mr Abadi stressed the need to fight corruption in military and civil institutions as this would affect the efficiency of troops.

Speaking in Cairo, he criticised the US-led international coalition, calling it “very slow in its support and training of the army.”

Although support was developing more quickly, he insisted that there needed to be “further acceleration.”

Mr Abadi met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi on Sunday to discuss proposals for a peaceful resolution to the Syrian conflict.

He explained that the objective of the proposals was to prevent the emergence of new terrorist groups in areas retaken from Isis.

According to US officials, Iraqi forces are being trained to launch a major offensive against the jihadists later this year.