Iraqi forces 'advance into Islamic State-held Ramadi'

BBC - Iraqi government forces have advanced into the centre of the city of Ramadi, which is controlled by jihadist group Islamic State (IS), officials say.

A spokesman for the Counter-Terrorism Service, Sabah al-Numani, said troops and militiamen, supported by the air force, were clearing residential areas.

They were heading towards the main government complex, he added.

Ramadi, about 90km (55 miles) west of Baghdad, fell to IS in May in an embarrassing defeat for the Iraqi army.

Last month, government forces completed their encirclement of the city, cutting off militants inside the centre from their strongholds elsewhere in Anbar province.