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| Iraqi security forces fight militants in Anbar province | Iraqi security forces fight militants in Anbar province |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Special forces in Iraq are fighting jihadist militants who have reportedly taken over swathes of two cities. | Special forces in Iraq are fighting jihadist militants who have reportedly taken over swathes of two cities. |
| The clashes with fighters from the al-Qaeda linked Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) are taking place in Fallujah and Ramadi. | The clashes with fighters from the al-Qaeda linked Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) are taking place in Fallujah and Ramadi. |
| Both cities are in the province of Anbar where Sunni militant activity has been on the rise. | Both cities are in the province of Anbar where Sunni militant activity has been on the rise. |
| On Monday the security forces broke up a long-running Sunni anti-government protest camp in Ramadi. | On Monday the security forces broke up a long-running Sunni anti-government protest camp in Ramadi. |
| A senior police officer was quoted as saying ISIS fighters had seized at least 10 police stations and had freed a number of prisoners. | A senior police officer was quoted as saying ISIS fighters had seized at least 10 police stations and had freed a number of prisoners. |
| ISIS fighters have posted videos of themselves burning government vehicles, setting up checkpoints and issuing challenges to the authority of the Shia Prime Minister, Nouri Maliki. | ISIS fighters have posted videos of themselves burning government vehicles, setting up checkpoints and issuing challenges to the authority of the Shia Prime Minister, Nouri Maliki. |
| Sunni tribal fighters have also taken to the streets, with reports that some are fighting on the government side. | Sunni tribal fighters have also taken to the streets, with reports that some are fighting on the government side. |
| Attacks stepped up | |
| As well as the breaking up of the protest camp, the arrest of a Sunni MP at the weekend raised tensions. | |
| Sunni Arabs in Iraq claim they have been targeted and politically marginalised by Mr Maliki's government, a charge the prime minister denies. | Sunni Arabs in Iraq claim they have been targeted and politically marginalised by Mr Maliki's government, a charge the prime minister denies. |
| Ten people died when the government moved against the camp in Ramadi on Monday. | |
| In April, a raid by security forces on a similar protest camp in the northern town of Hawija left 44 civilians and one policeman dead. | |
| The move by the authorities came after Mr Maliki said the protest camp had "turned into a headquarters for the leadership of al-Qaeda". | |
| Extremist Sunni militants linked to al-Qaeda subsequently stepped up attacks across the country, while Shia groups began deadly reprisals. | |
| The UN says 2013 was the deadliest year in Iraq since 2008, with at least 7,818 civilians and 1,050 members of the security forces killed in violent attacks. |