Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi on Monday denounced "the crimes against humanity" committed by Islamic State (IS) militants in Iraq, demanding that all the perpetrators face international justice.

In a statement, Arabi condemned the crimes, including killings and forced displacement, against Coptic minorities in Mosul and Yazidis, and other groups which represent essential civilized ethnic or religious components in Iraq.

The remarks referred to recent reports of more than 500 Yazidis killed and around 20,000 displaced in the onslaught by IS militants in northern Iraq.

These are "a crime against humanity and its perpetrators must be held accountable and brought to international justice," he said.

He called on all the regional and international concerned parties to intensify efforts to help Iraq get out of the current crisis tunnel, provide protection necessary for the sectarian minorities, and preserve the religious rights for the Iraqis without discrimination.

Arabi also urged all the Iraqi sides to unit in the face of IS terrorists, and reach a consensus to form a comprehensive national unity government as a main guarantee for security and stability of the war-torn country.

Iraq has been plagued with violence for years since the U.S.- led occupation, but the situation has deteriorated dramatically with the spillover of violence from the raging conflict in neighboring Syria.

The al-Qaida-linked IS, a regional armed Islamist militia fighting in Syria, has gained significant ground in Iraq, especially in the Sunni areas. Over recent days, the IS militants stormed towns in the northern part of Iraq in its advances to other parts of the country. Endi

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