'IS' fighters advance into Kobani

By early Tuesday it had become clear that "Islamic State" ("IS") militants had penetrated into the outskirts of the town, located on Syria's border with Turkey.

The head of Kurdish forces defending Kobani told the Reuters news agency that "IS" fighters were 300 meters (984 feet) inside the town's eastern district.

"We either die or win. No fighter is leaving," said Esmat al-Sheikh, leader of the Kobani Defense Authority. "The world is watching, just watching and leaving these monsters to kill everyone, even children...but we will fight to the end with what weapons we have."

The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said "IS" had taken control of three areas during Monday's fighting.

"They have taken the industrial zone, Maqtala al-Jadida and Kani Arabane in eastern Kobani after violent combat with Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) fighters" who had far fewer men and arms, the Observatory told the AFP news agency.

The "IS" fighters have continued their advance on the town despite airstrikes against them by warplanes from the US and some of its Gulf state allies.

The fighting has sent tens of thousands of people fleeing across the border into Turkey.

Earlier in the day, the black flag of "IS" was seen flying from a four-story building on the eastern outskirts of Kobani.

"ISIL have only planted a flag on one building…they are not inside the city. Intense clashes are continuing," said journalist Ismail Eskin, referring to the group by another name.

Turkey is observing the situation across its border with growing concern, and on Monday it deployed tanks along its side of the border for the second time in a week. The Turkish defense minister said the Western military alliance NATO, of which it is a member, had plans in place to defend the country if necessary.

Kurdish protests in Europe

On Monday, around 100 Kurdish demonstrators forced their way into the Dutch parliament to protest against "IS" and the danger of Kobani falling to the Islamists.

Another demonstration was held at the Bonn headquarters of Germany's international broadcaster, DW. Around 60 Kurdish demonstrators, some of whom were members of Kurdish women's organizations, forced their way into the lobby of the building before presenting DW with a resolution in which they called for "humanitarian aid for women and children forced to flee, as well as long-term projects to give women, girls and children a chance of survival."

pfd/crh (AP, AFP, Reuters)