Hundreds of ethnic Kurds are marching in Paris to demand more international support for civilians in Iraq facing assaults by Islamic State militants.

Waving flags, chanting and marching behind a banner, the demonstrators pressed for more humanitarian and military aid for thousands of Yazidi refugees in the Sinjar mountains.

Yekbun Eksen, a member of the Federation of Kurdish Associations of France, said the international aid was not yet enough to protect civilians.

The group has led peaceful weekly protests since Islamic State fighters attacked the town of Sinjar earlier this month.

France and the US have been among the countries providing military and humanitarian support for the embattled civilians in Iraq.

AP