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| Iraq crisis: Militants 'seize Tikrit' after taking Mosul | Iraq crisis: Militants 'seize Tikrit' after taking Mosul |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Islamist insurgents in Iraq have seized the city of Tikrit, their second major gain after capturing Mosul on Tuesday, security officials say. | Islamist insurgents in Iraq have seized the city of Tikrit, their second major gain after capturing Mosul on Tuesday, security officials say. |
| Tikrit, the hometown of former leader Saddam Hussein, lies just 150km (95 miles) north of the capital Baghdad. | Tikrit, the hometown of former leader Saddam Hussein, lies just 150km (95 miles) north of the capital Baghdad. |
| Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki has vowed to fight back against the jihadists and punish those in the security forces who have deserted. | Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki has vowed to fight back against the jihadists and punish those in the security forces who have deserted. |
| The insurgents are from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS). | The insurgents are from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS). |
| ISIS, which is also known as ISIL, is an offshoot of al-Qaeda. | ISIS, which is also known as ISIL, is an offshoot of al-Qaeda. |
| It controls considerable territory in eastern Syria and western and central Iraq, in a campaign to set up a Sunni militant enclave straddling the border. | It controls considerable territory in eastern Syria and western and central Iraq, in a campaign to set up a Sunni militant enclave straddling the border. |
| There were also reports on Wednesday of fighting further south, in Samarra, 110km north of Baghdad. | |
| Separately, at least 21 people were killed and 45 hurt by a suicide bomber at a Shia meeting in Baghdad, police said. | Separately, at least 21 people were killed and 45 hurt by a suicide bomber at a Shia meeting in Baghdad, police said. |
| 'Do not give in' | 'Do not give in' |
| As many as 500,000 people fled Mosul after the militants attacked the city. The head of the Turkish mission in Mosul and almost 50 consulate officials are being held by the militants, Turkish officials say. | As many as 500,000 people fled Mosul after the militants attacked the city. The head of the Turkish mission in Mosul and almost 50 consulate officials are being held by the militants, Turkish officials say. |
| The insurgents moved quickly south, entering the town of Baiji late on Tuesday. | The insurgents moved quickly south, entering the town of Baiji late on Tuesday. |
| There were heavy clashes reported in Tikrit, with dozens of insurgents attacking security forces near the headquarters of the Salaheddin provincial government in the city centre. | There were heavy clashes reported in Tikrit, with dozens of insurgents attacking security forces near the headquarters of the Salaheddin provincial government in the city centre. |
| One eyewitness told the BBC that gunmen had entered the city from four different directions and a police station had been set on fire. | One eyewitness told the BBC that gunmen had entered the city from four different directions and a police station had been set on fire. |
| ISIS in Iraq | ISIS in Iraq |
| Critical test ahead for Iraq | Critical test ahead for Iraq |
| Iraq country profile | Iraq country profile |
| How did Iraqi militants take over Mosul? | How did Iraqi militants take over Mosul? |
| In pictures: Iraq cities attacked | In pictures: Iraq cities attacked |
| AFP news agency quoted police and witnesses as saying there was fighting at the northern entrance to Samarra. | AFP news agency quoted police and witnesses as saying there was fighting at the northern entrance to Samarra. |
| Earlier Mr Maliki vowed to fight back against the militants. He has asked parliament to declare a state of emergency. | Earlier Mr Maliki vowed to fight back against the militants. He has asked parliament to declare a state of emergency. |
| In a live TV address, he said a "conspiracy" had taken place in Mosul and surrounding Ninevah province. | In a live TV address, he said a "conspiracy" had taken place in Mosul and surrounding Ninevah province. |
| Mr Maliki said he did not want to apportion blame for who had ordered the security personnel "to retreat and cause chaos". | Mr Maliki said he did not want to apportion blame for who had ordered the security personnel "to retreat and cause chaos". |
| He added: "Those who deserted and did not carry out their jobs properly should be punished but we will honour those who are resisting." | He added: "Those who deserted and did not carry out their jobs properly should be punished but we will honour those who are resisting." |
| Mr Maliki urged units still fighting to carry on and told the people of Ninevah: "Do not give in. We are with you, the state is with you, the army is with you. Even if the battle is a long one, we will not let you down." | Mr Maliki urged units still fighting to carry on and told the people of Ninevah: "Do not give in. We are with you, the state is with you, the army is with you. Even if the battle is a long one, we will not let you down." |
| He pledged to "reorganise the armed forces to cleanse Ninevah of the terrorists and those who helped them". | He pledged to "reorganise the armed forces to cleanse Ninevah of the terrorists and those who helped them". |
| Residents of Mosul said jihadist flags were flying from buildings and that the militants had announced over loudspeakers they had "come to liberate" the city. | Residents of Mosul said jihadist flags were flying from buildings and that the militants had announced over loudspeakers they had "come to liberate" the city. |
| A Turkish official told AFP that "48 Turks including the consul, staff members, guards and three children, were abducted" from its mission. | A Turkish official told AFP that "48 Turks including the consul, staff members, guards and three children, were abducted" from its mission. |
| Turkey's foreign minister warned there would be "harsh retaliation" if any of its citizens were harmed. | Turkey's foreign minister warned there would be "harsh retaliation" if any of its citizens were harmed. |
| The BBC's Jim Muir says that citizens in Mosul are reporting that the militants have been travelling around the city telling them that they are not in danger - even the Shia residents - and that people should go back to work. | The BBC's Jim Muir says that citizens in Mosul are reporting that the militants have been travelling around the city telling them that they are not in danger - even the Shia residents - and that people should go back to work. |
| ISIS has been informally controlling much of Nineveh for months, and in the past week has attacked other areas of western and northern Iraq, killing scores of people. | ISIS has been informally controlling much of Nineveh for months, and in the past week has attacked other areas of western and northern Iraq, killing scores of people. |
| The Iraqi government is struggling 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. | The Iraqi government is struggling 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. |
| Are you in the area? Are you from Mosul? Have you been affected by the situation? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using 'Mosul' in the subject. | Are you in the area? Are you from Mosul? Have you been affected by the situation? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using 'Mosul' in the subject. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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