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| Militants seize key sections of Iraqi city Mosul and free 1,000 people in prison break | Militants seize key sections of Iraqi city Mosul and free 1,000 people in prison break |
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| Hundreds of gunmen took control of key sections of the northern Iraqi city of Mosul today, forcing local police and army forces to abandon their posts and dealing a serious blow to Baghdad's efforts to control a widening insurgency in the country. | Hundreds of gunmen took control of key sections of the northern Iraqi city of Mosul today, forcing local police and army forces to abandon their posts and dealing a serious blow to Baghdad's efforts to control a widening insurgency in the country. |
| Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki asked parliament to declare a state of emergency. | |
| According to police, fighters from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), an al-Qa'ida splinter group, freed up to 1,000 inmates from the central prison and took control of Mosul airport, local TV stations and the governor's offices. | According to police, fighters from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), an al-Qa'ida splinter group, freed up to 1,000 inmates from the central prison and took control of Mosul airport, local TV stations and the governor's offices. |
| The insurgents seized the government complex — a key symbol of state authority — late yesterday, following days of fighting in the country's second-largest city. | |
| Mosul is a former al-Qa'ida stronghold situated in what has long been one of the more dangerous parts of Iraq 360 kilometers northwest of Baghdad. | |
| Several worried Mosul residents reported seeing the gunmen hoisting the black flags inscribed with the Islamic declaration used by ISIL, al-Qa'ida and other jihadist groups. Unconfirmed reports have also suggested there are a number of foreign fighters involved in the attacks. | Several worried Mosul residents reported seeing the gunmen hoisting the black flags inscribed with the Islamic declaration used by ISIL, al-Qa'ida and other jihadist groups. Unconfirmed reports have also suggested there are a number of foreign fighters involved in the attacks. |
| In a nationally televised press conference, al-Maliki asked parliament to convene an urgent session to declare a state of emergency. | |
| "Iraq is undergoing a difficult stage," he said, acknowledging that militants had taken control of "vital areas in Mosul," and saying the public and government must unite "to confront this vicious attack, which will spare no Iraqi." | |
| Under the constitution, parliament can declare a 30-day state of emergency on a two-thirds vote by its members, granting the prime minister the necessary powers to run the country. | |
| Um Karam, a government employee who lives about two kilometers (just over a mile) from the provincial headquarters, said her family decided to flee the city early on Tuesday after hearing about the government building's fall. | Um Karam, a government employee who lives about two kilometers (just over a mile) from the provincial headquarters, said her family decided to flee the city early on Tuesday after hearing about the government building's fall. |
| "The situation is chaotic inside the city and there is nobody to help us," the Christian mother of two said, using a nickname out of concern for her safety. "We are afraid ... There is no police or army in Mosul." | "The situation is chaotic inside the city and there is nobody to help us," the Christian mother of two said, using a nickname out of concern for her safety. "We are afraid ... There is no police or army in Mosul." |
| The Mosul attack comes as Iraq is in the grip of its worst surge in violence since the sectarian bloodletting of 2006 and 2007. | The Mosul attack comes as Iraq is in the grip of its worst surge in violence since the sectarian bloodletting of 2006 and 2007. |
| The embattled Shiite prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, is struggling to hold onto power following parliamentary elections in late April that left him with the most seats but short of a majority needed to form a new government outright. | The embattled Shiite prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, is struggling to hold onto power following parliamentary elections in late April that left him with the most seats but short of a majority needed to form a new government outright. |
| ISIL insurgents and their allies remain in control of Fallujah and other parts of Anbar province, which neighbors Ninevah province and like it shares a long and loosely controlled border with Syria. | |
| The militants have also managed to launch frequent coordinated attacks in the capital, Baghdad, and in other parts of the country. | |
| Insurgents last week launched an attack on the Sunni-dominated city of Samarra, 95 kilometers (60 miles) from Baghdad. They killed several members of the Iraqi security forces and took control of several districts before eventually being repelled. | Insurgents last week launched an attack on the Sunni-dominated city of Samarra, 95 kilometers (60 miles) from Baghdad. They killed several members of the Iraqi security forces and took control of several districts before eventually being repelled. |
| A day later, militants occupied a university in Anbar province, taking dozens hostages before later releasing later on. Authorities in Anbar said Monday that about 15 staffers are still missing, likely held by a group of gunmen in a campus building. | A day later, militants occupied a university in Anbar province, taking dozens hostages before later releasing later on. Authorities in Anbar said Monday that about 15 staffers are still missing, likely held by a group of gunmen in a campus building. |
| Additional reporting by Associated Press | Additional reporting by Associated Press |