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| Iraqi forces 'advance into Islamic State-held Ramadi' | Iraqi forces 'advance into Islamic State-held Ramadi' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 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. | Ramadi, about 90km (55 miles) west of Baghdad, fell to IS in May in an embarrassing defeat for the Iraqi army. |
| Government forces completed their encirclement of the city last month, cutting off militants inside the centre from their strongholds elsewhere in Anbar province. | |
| Iraqi intelligence officials estimate that between 250 and 300 remain inside Ramadi. | |
| On Monday, the defence ministry said the militants had prevented civilians leaving since leaflets warning of an assault were dropped over the city last month. |