Iraq forces in 'full control' of central Ramadi
Source: BBC World Middle East
Iraqi officials say the army is now in "full control" of central Ramadi, where so-called Islamic State (IS) has been resisting an army offensive.
However there were still "pockets of resistance", a spokesman for the provincial governor said.
A security source told the BBC IS suicide bombers were still inside a former government compound, which had earlier been declared retaken.
Ramadi fell to IS in May, in an embarrassing defeat for the army.
Iraqi government forces, backed by coalition air strikes, has been trying to retake the mainly Sunni Arab city for weeks....
There had been no clear indications of the number of IS militants who had been defending the city, although some reports put it at about 400. No official toll of Iraqi army casualties has been given. The Iraqi military believes the remaining militants have headed north-east. Fighting is also reported south-west of the compound.
Concern remains for hundreds of families trapped on the frontline. Although the situation on the ground remains unclear, AFP news agency reported celebrations on the streets of a number of Iraqi cities.
The operation to recapture Ramadi began in early November, but made slow progress, mainly because the government chose not to use the powerful Shia-dominated paramilitary force that helped it regain the northern city of Tikrit, to avoid increasing sectarian tensions.
Read more: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-35186105
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