2nd lead updated 21:37

China has signed £14 billion dollars of trade deals with the United Kingdom, as Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met with the Queen and held talks with British Prime Minister David Cameron, announcing a host of trade deals.

The largest of the announced deals was a £11.8 billion BP gas supply contract with the China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC), set to run over 20 years, starting in 2019.

British Premier David Cameron said that he was committed to rebuilding diplomatic relations with the Iranian government.

Speaking a day after the British High Commission in Tehran was reopened, Cameron said it was right that both countries should engage in "greater dialogue" and seek to improve relations on a "step-by-step" basis, adding that the deteriorating situation in Iraq, “is not a reason for not taking that step", but that he would proceed with a "clear eye and hard head".

The United States has ruled out the prospect of military co-operation with Iran, over the escalating crisis in Iraq.

Remarks by Secretary of State John Kerry, saying “I wouldn’t rule out anything that would be constructive," caused speculation over whether the two countries would work together.

This was soon followed by statements from the Pentagon ruling out any joint military possibilities.

The claimed execution of 1,700 prisoners by the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIS) in the Iraqi city of Tikrit almost certainly amounts to war crimes, stated the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay.

Videos and photographs have emerged on various websites linked to ISIS, showing executions of dozens up of members of the Iraqi army. ISIS claims to have executed 1,700 after capturing the city of Tikrit. It comes as the group claim to have made further territorial gains, capturing the town of Tal Afar and its commanding general, whom they will publically execute, according to reports.

Pillay said in a statement earlier today,

“Based on corroborated reports from a number of sources, it appears that hundreds of non-combatant men were summarily executed over the past five days, including surrendered or captured soldiers, military conscripts, police and others associated with the Government,”

The High Commissioner went on to add,

“Although the numbers cannot be verified yet, this apparently systematic series of cold-blooded executions, mostly conducted in various locations in the Tikrit area, almost certainly amounts to war crimes”.

“It is in our interests for this Jihadist extremist group to be stopped in its tracks. I understand entirely why people say ‘it is nothing to do with us and I don’t want to hear about it’”