CANON Andrew White has been ordered by the Archbishop of Canterbury to leave his Anglican church because of the growing danger the Islamic State (IS) poses to the Iraqi capital.

On Saturday, Canon White – otherwise known as the Vicar of Baghdad – travelled to Jerusalem and issued a statement. It read: "Sadly things are not looking good for an immanent return to Baghdad.

"My dear friend the Archbishop of Canterbury has made clear that my profile is so high – I am British and very pro-Israel – that it would place me at incredibly high risk should ISIS get near Baghdad.

"At the moment they are not, but who knows what could happen. This will mean I will not be able to return to Baghdad yet."

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