Special forces loyal to Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki are on patrol Monday morning on the streets of Baghdad.

Al-Maliki ordered their deployment after making a televised announcement that he does plan to run for a third term, despite pressure not to.

He's been serving as caretaker Prime Minister since the election earlier this year failed to produce a clear winner.

Critics say he's too polarising- Sunnis, Kurds and even fellow Shi'ites have accused him of sidelining Sunnis, prompting some to support the militant group who are now persecuting residents in the northern part of the country.

The Islamic State insurgents- capitalising on the political deadlock in Baghdad- have killed hundreds of people and forced thousands of others to flee the violence.

The U.S. military has sent aid to the region and has also carried out airstrikes to help the Kurdish forces who are fighting the insurgents.

During a trip to Australia, U.S. Secretary of State John