Iraqi military
Iraq to hold manual recount of May election results
The election was won by a bloc led by nationalist cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, a long-time adversary of the United States who also opposes Iran’s sway in Iraq.
Hashimi described Eithawi as a direct aide to Islamic State leader Baghdadi, responsible for funds transfers to the group’s bank accounts in different countries.
The vote organised by Kurdish authorities is expected to deliver a comfortable “yes” for independence, but is not binding.
The city, which had a pre-war population of about 200,000, lies on the supply route between Syria and Mosul, 80 km to the east.
The explosion happened in Iskan, a mostly Shi’ite district in the west of the Iraqi capital.
Mosul is the largest urban center under the militants’ control & had a pre-war population of 2 million.
The Shi’ite form a majority in Iraq but Sunnis are predominant in northern and western provinces.
The attacks come as Iraqi forces are trying to dislodge Islamic State militants from Falluja.
US officials expressed worry that Special Forces may burn out after nearly 2 years of continuous combat.
The Iraqi army’s assault on Falluja has begun what is expected to be one of the biggest battles ever fought.
A Reuters TV crew about 1.5 km from the city’s edge said explosions & gunfire were ripping through Naimiya.
Two of the bombers detonated their vehicle-borne explosives at the western gate of Camp Speicher.
The operation to recapture Ramadi began in early November after a months-long effort to cut off supply lines.
Iraqi security forces together with Sunni tribal fighters fought to dislodge Isis and secure a supply route.
Iraqi security forces and Shi'ite paramilitaries are preparing to to retake the Iraqi city.
Forces are trying to recapture the country's Sunni heartland, Anbar province.
Tikrit is the focus of a counter-offensive against IS by more than 20,000 troops and Shi'ite militias.
The offensive is the biggest in the province since the Sunni Islamist radicals seized land last June.
About 320 US Marines are training members of the Iraqi 7th Division at Ain al-Asad air base.