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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Iraq crisis: Fresh clashes over Tikrit | Iraq crisis: Fresh clashes over Tikrit |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Iraqi government forces are continuing an offensive to retake the northern city of Tikrit from Sunni rebels. | Iraqi government forces are continuing an offensive to retake the northern city of Tikrit from Sunni rebels. |
| Aircraft have struck at rebel positions and clashes have broken out in various parts of the city, witnesses and officials have said. | Aircraft have struck at rebel positions and clashes have broken out in various parts of the city, witnesses and officials have said. |
| Troops had reportedly pulled back to the nearby town of Dijla as Saturday's initial offensive met stiff resistance. | Troops had reportedly pulled back to the nearby town of Dijla as Saturday's initial offensive met stiff resistance. |
| The city of Tikrit was captured by Sunni rebels on 11 June as they swept across large parts of northern Iraq. | The city of Tikrit was captured by Sunni rebels on 11 June as they swept across large parts of northern Iraq. |
| "The security forces are advancing from different areas", Lt-Gen Qassem Atta told journalists. "There are ongoing clashes." | "The security forces are advancing from different areas", Lt-Gen Qassem Atta told journalists. "There are ongoing clashes." |
| Improvised devices | Improvised devices |
| Heavy fighting on Saturday between the Iraqi security forces and armed men from different factions controlling Tikrit caused many casualties on both sides, eyewitnesses and journalists told the BBC. | Heavy fighting on Saturday between the Iraqi security forces and armed men from different factions controlling Tikrit caused many casualties on both sides, eyewitnesses and journalists told the BBC. |
| Fear inside Tikrit | Fear inside Tikrit |
| "We cannot live here another day. The entire night we have only heard bombs bursting all around the hospital" - Marina Jose, one of 46 stranded Indian nurses at a Tikrit teaching hospital, tells BBC | "We cannot live here another day. The entire night we have only heard bombs bursting all around the hospital" - Marina Jose, one of 46 stranded Indian nurses at a Tikrit teaching hospital, tells BBC |
| 'No-one wants to stay here' | 'No-one wants to stay here' |
| Insurgents, led by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Isis), were reported to have shot down a helicopter and captured the pilot. | Insurgents, led by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Isis), were reported to have shot down a helicopter and captured the pilot. |
| The witnesses said the Iraqi forces had been hampered in their bid to retake Tikrit by the large number of improvised explosive devices laid on the approaches to the city. | The witnesses said the Iraqi forces had been hampered in their bid to retake Tikrit by the large number of improvised explosive devices laid on the approaches to the city. |
| Iraq said on Sunday it had received the first batch of military jets ordered from Russia in order to help fight the militants. | Iraq said on Sunday it had received the first batch of military jets ordered from Russia in order to help fight the militants. |
| The defence ministry said five Sukhoi aircraft would enter service in "three to four days". | The defence ministry said five Sukhoi aircraft would enter service in "three to four days". |
| Kurdistan state | Kurdistan state |
| Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for the creation of an independent Kurdish state in response to gains made by Sunni insurgents in Iraq. | Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for the creation of an independent Kurdish state in response to gains made by Sunni insurgents in Iraq. |
| In a speech in Tel Aviv, he said the Kurds "are a nation of fighters and have proved political commitment and are worthy of independence." | In a speech in Tel Aviv, he said the Kurds "are a nation of fighters and have proved political commitment and are worthy of independence." |
| Earlier this week, Iraqi Kurd leader Massoud Barzani told CNN that "the time is here for the Kurdistan people to determine their future". | Earlier this week, Iraqi Kurd leader Massoud Barzani told CNN that "the time is here for the Kurdistan people to determine their future". |
| Correspondents say the Kurds have long held aspirations for an independent state but they remain divided between Syria and Turkey, Iran and Iraq. | |
| The international community, including neighbouring Turkey and the US, remain opposed to the breakup of Iraq. | |
| Speaking to the BBC on Sunday, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague called for political unity in Iraq to help fight what he called the "mortal threat" to the state. | Speaking to the BBC on Sunday, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague called for political unity in Iraq to help fight what he called the "mortal threat" to the state. |
| "Security operations will only work with strong political support from all elements in Iraq" he said. | "Security operations will only work with strong political support from all elements in Iraq" he said. |
| Mr Hague's intervention will add to the pressure on Iraq's leaders to form a national unity government, correspondents say. | Mr Hague's intervention will add to the pressure on Iraq's leaders to form a national unity government, correspondents say. |
| It follows a call from Iraq's most influential Shia cleric, Grand Ayatollah Sistani, for a new prime minister to be appointed by Tuesday - when the new parliament meets - to try to defuse the political crisis. | It follows a call from Iraq's most influential Shia cleric, Grand Ayatollah Sistani, for a new prime minister to be appointed by Tuesday - when the new parliament meets - to try to defuse the political crisis. |
| Prime Minister Nouri Maliki wants a third term, though observers say he is seen by many as having precipitated the current crisis through sectarian policies. | Prime Minister Nouri Maliki wants a third term, though observers say he is seen by many as having precipitated the current crisis through sectarian policies. |
| Are you in the area? What is your reaction to the current situation? Email your views to haveyoursay@bbc.o.ukwith the word 'Iraq' in the subject heading. | Are you in the area? What is your reaction to the current situation? Email your views to haveyoursay@bbc.o.ukwith the word 'Iraq' in the subject heading. |