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Iraq crisis: Battle grips vital Baiji oil refinery Iraq crisis: Battle grips vital Baiji oil refinery
(35 minutes later)
The Iraqi army says it has beaten off Islamist-led militants attacking the country's biggest oil refinery amid reports that most of it is in militant hands. The Iraqi army says it has driven off Islamist-led militants attacking the country's biggest oil refinery amid reports that most of it is in militant hands.
An official told Reuters the militants had occupied 75% of the Baiji refinery, 210km (130 miles) north of Baghdad.An official told Reuters the militants had occupied 75% of the Baiji refinery, 210km (130 miles) north of Baghdad.
The army said 40 attackers had been killed, a claim which could not be verified independently.The army said 40 attackers had been killed, a claim which could not be verified independently.
Government forces have made new air strikes on militants elsewhere. Government forces have renewed air strikes on militants elsewhere.
Fighting is also reported in the western city of Ramadi.Fighting is also reported in the western city of Ramadi.
The government is battling to push back ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) and its Sunni Muslim allies in Diyala and Salahuddin provinces, after the militants overran the second city, Mosul, last week.The government is battling to push back ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) and its Sunni Muslim allies in Diyala and Salahuddin provinces, after the militants overran the second city, Mosul, last week.
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki appeared on television with Sunni Muslim and Kurdish leaders on Tuesday to issue a call for national unity in the face of the advance - they demanded that non-state forces lay down their arms. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has gone on television to tell Iraqis that gains by ISIS are a "setback" but Iraq has recovered its "national unity". He has long been accused of favouring the country's Shia Muslim majority.
However, such a call is unlikely to have much effect as Mr Maliki has openly sponsored the formation of Shia Muslim militias to fight alongside regular Iraqi troops, the BBC's Jim Muir reports from Irbil in northern Iraq.
Hundreds of people have been killed since the start of the militant offensive last week, many of them believed to be captured soldiers publicly shot by ISIS-led firing squads.
During fighting in the city of Baquba this week, 44 prisoners were killed inside a police station in unclear circumstances.
In other developments:In other developments:
You can watch a BBC News special on the situation in Iraq on the BBC News Channel in the UK and BBC World internationally at 16:00 BST (15:00 GMT) today and follow our online live coverage.You can watch a BBC News special on the situation in Iraq on the BBC News Channel in the UK and BBC World internationally at 16:00 BST (15:00 GMT) today and follow our online live coverage.
Militants 'in control'Militants 'in control'
The attack on the refinery started at 04:00 (01:00 GMT) from outside two of the three main entrances to the refinery, according to Reuters.The attack on the refinery started at 04:00 (01:00 GMT) from outside two of the three main entrances to the refinery, according to Reuters.
Smoke rose from a spare parts warehouse and some stores of oil were reportedly destroyed.Smoke rose from a spare parts warehouse and some stores of oil were reportedly destroyed.
"The militants have managed to break into the refinery," the unnamed official told Reuters from inside the refinery. "Now they are in control of the production units, administration building and four watch towers. This is 75% of the refinery.""The militants have managed to break into the refinery," the unnamed official told Reuters from inside the refinery. "Now they are in control of the production units, administration building and four watch towers. This is 75% of the refinery."
Army spokesman Qasim Ata said in news conference broadcast live on TV: "The security forces thwarted an attempt by Daish [ISIS] to attack Baiji refinery and 40 terrorists were killed."Army spokesman Qasim Ata said in news conference broadcast live on TV: "The security forces thwarted an attempt by Daish [ISIS] to attack Baiji refinery and 40 terrorists were killed."
The nearby town of Baiji was overrun by ISIS-led militants last week. Foreign personnel were evacuated from the refinery earlier but local staff reportedly remained in place.The nearby town of Baiji was overrun by ISIS-led militants last week. Foreign personnel were evacuated from the refinery earlier but local staff reportedly remained in place.
Baiji accounts for a little more than a quarter of the country's entire refining capacity, all of which goes toward domestic consumption for things like petrol, cooking oil and fuel for power stations, an official told AP news agency.Baiji accounts for a little more than a quarter of the country's entire refining capacity, all of which goes toward domestic consumption for things like petrol, cooking oil and fuel for power stations, an official told AP news agency.
Militants in the western province of Anbar, where the capital is Ramadi, said they had made advances, with a number of police stations near the town of Hit going over to dissident tribes. Hundreds of people have been killed since the start of the militant offensive last week, many of them believed to be captured soldiers publicly shot by ISIS-led firing squads.
During fighting in the city of Baquba this week, 44 prisoners were killed inside a police station in unclear circumstances.
'A setback'
Militants in the western province of Anbar said they had made advances, with a number of police stations near the town of Hit going over to dissident tribes.
Further north, the Iraqi government said it had recaptured the citadel in the strategic town of Tal Afar, where militants were said to have taken control on Monday.Further north, the Iraqi government said it had recaptured the citadel in the strategic town of Tal Afar, where militants were said to have taken control on Monday.
Using unusually strong language, Mr Maliki accused Saudi Arabia - which is largely Sunni - of backing ISIS. "I would like to say once again that what has happened in Iraq is a setback but not every setback is a defeat," Mr Maliki said on Wednesday.
He also fired four army commanders for failing to halt the sweeping advance by the militants. They included the top commander for Nineveh, the first province where ISIS fighters made major gains. "This setback has allowed Iraq to recover its national unity and Iraqis have managed to recover their feeling that they are in danger and that not a single Iraqi will benefit from this crisis."
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has said Tehran will not "spare any effort" to defend Shia holy shrines in Iraq against "mercenaries, murderers and terrorists".Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has said Tehran will not "spare any effort" to defend Shia holy shrines in Iraq against "mercenaries, murderers and terrorists".
He was speaking amid reports that the head of the elite Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, Qasem Soleimani, was in Baghdad to help co-ordinate the fight against the militants.He was speaking amid reports that the head of the elite Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, Qasem Soleimani, was in Baghdad to help co-ordinate the fight against the militants.
ISIS in IraqISIS in Iraq
ISIS grew out of an al-Qaeda-linked organisation in IraqISIS grew out of an al-Qaeda-linked organisation in Iraq
Iraq 'massacre' photos: What we knowIraq 'massacre' photos: What we know
Are you in Iraq or do you have family there? Have you been affected by recent events? You can send us your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line "Iraq".Are you in Iraq or do you have family there? Have you been affected by recent events? You can send us your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line "Iraq".