This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/19/iraqi-forces-launch-assault-ramadi

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Iraqi forces launch assault against anti-government fighters in Ramadi Iraqi forces launch assault against anti-government fighters in Ramadi
(35 minutes later)
Iraqi forces launched a major assault on Sunday on a Sunni Arab city partially in the control of anti-government fighters in a bid to end a protracted crisis ahead of elections. Iraqi forces launched a major assault on a city partially in the control of anti-government fighters in a bid to end a protracted crisis ahead of elections.
The operation, which involved police, pro-government militiamen and Swat forces, sought to wrest back key neighbourhoods of Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province and one of two cities where the authorities recently lost swathes of territory. The operation, which involved police, pro-government militiamen and swat teams, sought to wrest back key neighbourhoods of Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province and one of two cities where the authorities recently lost swaths of territory.
Diplomats including the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, have urged Baghdad to pursue political reconciliation to undercut support for militancy.Diplomats including the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, have urged Baghdad to pursue political reconciliation to undercut support for militancy.
Iraq's prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, has meanwhile blamed "diabolical" Arab countries for the unrest and focused on security operations ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled to be held in April.Iraq's prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, has meanwhile blamed "diabolical" Arab countries for the unrest and focused on security operations ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled to be held in April.
Iraqi forces backed by tribesmen moved into five Ramadi neighbourhoods on Sunday, with helicopters providing cover and firing on the sprawling district of Malaab at the centre of fighting between anti-government fighters and security forces and their tribal allies.Iraqi forces backed by tribesmen moved into five Ramadi neighbourhoods on Sunday, with helicopters providing cover and firing on the sprawling district of Malaab at the centre of fighting between anti-government fighters and security forces and their tribal allies.
According to state television, the defence ministry spokesman, staff lieutenant general Mohammed al-Askari, said: "The Iraqi army launched a large operation with helicopter cover against Daash, al-Qaida and terrorists in Ramadi." According to state television, the defence ministry spokesman, Staff Lieutenant General Mohammed al-Askari, said: "The Iraqi army launched a large operation with helicopter cover against Daash, al-Qaida and terrorists in Ramadi." A police lieutenant colonel and an AFP journalist in Ramadi confirmed the operation had begun.
A police lieutenant colonel and an AFP journalist in Ramadi confirmed the operation had begun. All of the neighbourhoods targeted lie in the south or centre of the city. The operation will seek to take back momentum from anti-government fighters, who have expanded their hold on Ramadi in the past week.
All of the neighbourhoods targeted lie in the south or centre of the city. A large section of Ramadi and all of Falluja, both former insurgent bastions close to Baghdad, fell from government control late last month. It was the first time anti-government fighters have exercised such open control in major cities since the height of the insurgency that followed the US-led invasion of 2003.
The operation will seek to take back momentum from anti-government fighters, who have expanded their hold on Ramadi in the past week. On Sunday, Maliki said: "The world has united with us. The (UN) security council, the European Union and most Arab countries, except some diabolical treacherous countries."
A large section of Ramadi and all of Fallujah, both former insurgent bastions close to Baghdad, fell from government control late last month. He did not single out any specific countries, but Iraqi officials have alleged Saudi Arabia and Qatar in particular have supported disaffected Sunnis in western Iraq, as they have staged anti-government protests in the past year.
It was the first time anti-government fighters have exercised such open control in major cities since the height of the insurgency that followed the US-led invasion of 2003.
Fighting originally erupted in the Ramadi area on 30 December when security forces cleared a year-old Sunni Arab protest camp.
It spread to Fallujah and militants moved in and seized the city and parts of Ramadi after security forces withdrew.
On Sunday, Al-Maliki blamed diabolical and treacherous Arab countries for supporting the unrest and said he was confident that the Iraqi people will defeat terrorism.
He said: "The world has united with us. The (UN) security council, the European Union and most Arab countries, except some diabolical treacherous countries."
He did not single out any specific countries, but Iraqi officials have alleged Saudi Arabia and Qatar in particular have supported disaffected Sunni Arabs in western Iraq as they have staged anti-government protests in the past year.
Amman said on Sunday it would host US training for Iraqi forces, after an American defence official said Washington was waiting for an agreement with Jordan or another country to go ahead with the programme.Amman said on Sunday it would host US training for Iraqi forces, after an American defence official said Washington was waiting for an agreement with Jordan or another country to go ahead with the programme.
Al-Maliki told The Washington Post Baghdad specifically needed US counterterrorism training.
The US defence official said Washington was also preparing to ship several thousand M16 and M4 assault rifles as well as ammunition to Iraq, after having already provided missiles to Al-Maliki's government.
Violence also struck elsewhere in Iraq on Sunday, with nine people killed in restive cities north of Baghdad, a day after a wave of bombings in the capital killed 25 people.