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Iraq militants control second city of Mosul Iraq militants control second city of Mosul
(35 minutes later)
Iraq's prime minister has asked parliament to declare a state of emergency, after Islamist militants effectively took control of Mosul.Iraq's prime minister has asked parliament to declare a state of emergency, after Islamist militants effectively took control of Mosul.
Nouri Maliki acknowledged "vital areas" of the northern city had been seized.Nouri Maliki acknowledged "vital areas" of the northern city had been seized.
Overnight, hundreds of men armed with rocket-propelled grenades and machine-guns seized the Nineveh provincial government's offices in Mosul.Overnight, hundreds of men armed with rocket-propelled grenades and machine-guns seized the Nineveh provincial government's offices in Mosul.
They also destroyed several police stations before overrunning the airport and army's operations headquarters.They also destroyed several police stations before overrunning the airport and army's operations headquarters.
Elsewhere, a double bomb attack in the central town of Baqouba killed at least 20 people, police and medics said. The blasts, targeting a funeral procession in the capital of Diyala province, also wounded 28 people.Elsewhere, a double bomb attack in the central town of Baqouba killed at least 20 people, police and medics said. The blasts, targeting a funeral procession in the capital of Diyala province, also wounded 28 people.
In the past week, the jihadist Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) and its allies have carried out major attacks on cities and towns in western and northern Iraq, killing scores of people.In the past week, the jihadist Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) and its allies have carried out major attacks on cities and towns in western and northern Iraq, killing scores of people.
'Maximum alert''Maximum alert'
The BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut says militants from ISIS have been informally controlling much of Nineveh province for months, imposing tolls of the movement of goods and demanding protection money from local officials.The BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut says militants from ISIS have been informally controlling much of Nineveh province for months, imposing tolls of the movement of goods and demanding protection money from local officials.
After five days of fighting, they took control of key installations in Mosul, Iraq's second largest city with an estimated population of 1.8 million.After five days of fighting, they took control of key installations in Mosul, Iraq's second largest city with an estimated population of 1.8 million.
Analysis: Jim Muir, BBC News, Beirut
Prime Minister Nouri Maliki, who is struggling to form a government in the wake of the April elections, has vowed to drive the ISIS "terrorists" out of mainly-Sunni Mosul in short order.
He is unlikely to succeed soon. He made similar vows when Sunni militants took over Falluja, west of Baghdad, in January, and they are still there.
It is not yet clear whether it is only ISIS involved in the Mosul takeover. In Falluja and its province, Anbar, Mr Maliki has clearly alienated many Sunni tribesmen and others, creating fertile soil for the radicals.
Internet images of local youths and even children stoning Iraqi security vehicles as they fled Mosul suggest that the Shia PM is not popular there either.
ISIS is also actively fighting in neighbouring eastern Syria to establish its control there, apparently aiming to straddle the border with an Islamic state.
If Mr Maliki is to defeat the Sunni radicals, he may need the help of Kurdish forces from the north. That will come with a heavy price tag, and they have in any case so far refused.
On Monday, Nineveh Governor Atheel al-Nujaifi made a televised plea to the city's residents, calling on them to "stand firm in their areas and to defend them against the strangers".On Monday, Nineveh Governor Atheel al-Nujaifi made a televised plea to the city's residents, calling on them to "stand firm in their areas and to defend them against the strangers".
But Mr Nujaifi fled shortly before the provincial government's headquarters fell to the onslaught late on Monday night.But Mr Nujaifi fled shortly before the provincial government's headquarters fell to the onslaught late on Monday night.
On Tuesday, several residents told the Associated Press that black flags associated with jihadist groups were flying from buildings and that the militants had announced over loudspeaker that they had "come to liberate Mosul and would fight only those who attack them".On Tuesday, several residents told the Associated Press that black flags associated with jihadist groups were flying from buildings and that the militants had announced over loudspeaker that they had "come to liberate Mosul and would fight only those who attack them".
"The situation is chaotic inside the city and there is nobody to help us," said Umm Karam, a government employee. "We are afraid.""The situation is chaotic inside the city and there is nobody to help us," said Umm Karam, a government employee. "We are afraid."
Many police stations were reported to have been set on fire - local TV stations showed pictures of plumes of smoke rising over the city - and hundreds of detainees set free.Many police stations were reported to have been set on fire - local TV stations showed pictures of plumes of smoke rising over the city - and hundreds of detainees set free.
An interior ministry official admitted that police and soldiers had fled after removing their uniforms, telling the AFP news agency: "The city of Mosul is outside the control of the state and at the mercy of the militants."An interior ministry official admitted that police and soldiers had fled after removing their uniforms, telling the AFP news agency: "The city of Mosul is outside the control of the state and at the mercy of the militants."
Osama al-Nujaifi, the speaker of parliament and brother of Nineveh's governor, called on the Iraqi government and Kurdistan Regional Government to send reinforcements to Mosul to "fight the terrorists", whom he said had seized military hardware, including helicopters.Osama al-Nujaifi, the speaker of parliament and brother of Nineveh's governor, called on the Iraqi government and Kurdistan Regional Government to send reinforcements to Mosul to "fight the terrorists", whom he said had seized military hardware, including helicopters.
"What happened is a disaster by any standard," he said. "The presence of these terrorist groups in this vast province... threatens not just the security and the unity of Iraq, but the whole Middle East.""What happened is a disaster by any standard," he said. "The presence of these terrorist groups in this vast province... threatens not just the security and the unity of Iraq, but the whole Middle East."
Later, Mr Maliki told a televised news conference in Baghdad that the security forces had been placed on a state of "maximum alert".Later, Mr Maliki told a televised news conference in Baghdad that the security forces had been placed on a state of "maximum alert".
He also said he had asked parliament to declare a state of emergency, which would broaden arrest powers and allow curfews to be imposed.He also said he had asked parliament to declare a state of emergency, which would broaden arrest powers and allow curfews to be imposed.
Meanwhile, the Turkish consulate in Mosul confirmed reports that 28 Turkish lorry drivers had been abducted by militants in Nineveh.Meanwhile, the Turkish consulate in Mosul confirmed reports that 28 Turkish lorry drivers had been abducted by militants in Nineveh.
Our correspondent says the loss of Mosul is a massive challenge to Mr Maliki. The mainly Sunni city has long chafed under his rule, he adds.Our correspondent says the loss of Mosul is a massive challenge to Mr Maliki. The mainly Sunni city has long chafed under his rule, he adds.
It comes as the Iraqi government struggles with a surge in sectarian violence that killed almost 800 people, including 603 civilians, in May alone, according to the UN. Last year, more than 8,860 people died.It comes as the Iraqi government struggles with a surge in sectarian violence that killed almost 800 people, including 603 civilians, in May alone, according to the UN. Last year, more than 8,860 people died.
Parts of Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, and much of the nearby city of Falluja have been under the control of ISIS and its allies since late December, something that Mr Maliki has been unable to reverse.Parts of Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, and much of the nearby city of Falluja have been under the control of ISIS and its allies since late December, something that Mr Maliki has been unable to reverse.