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| Iraq preparing to retake Mosul from Islamic State - PM | Iraq preparing to retake Mosul from Islamic State - PM |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi says its armed forces are preparing for an offensive to retake the northern city of Mosul from Islamic State (IS). | Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi says its armed forces are preparing for an offensive to retake the northern city of Mosul from Islamic State (IS). |
| Mr Abadi told the BBC he hoped Mosul would be liberated in a few months' time, and with a minimum of casualties. | |
| Mosul, which was home to more than a million people, fell to IS last June. | Mosul, which was home to more than a million people, fell to IS last June. |
| Mr Abadi also said he had been "a bit frustrated" in his first few months in office by the slowness of international help for the fight against IS. | Mr Abadi also said he had been "a bit frustrated" in his first few months in office by the slowness of international help for the fight against IS. |
| But in recent weeks, he added, the situation had changed for the better. | But in recent weeks, he added, the situation had changed for the better. |
| Co-ordination | Co-ordination |
| Mr Abadi replaced his party colleague, Nouri al-Maliki, as prime minister in September. Mr Maliki, also a Shia Muslim, was widely criticised for alienating Iraq's Sunni Arab minority by pursuing sectarian policies. | Mr Abadi replaced his party colleague, Nouri al-Maliki, as prime minister in September. Mr Maliki, also a Shia Muslim, was widely criticised for alienating Iraq's Sunni Arab minority by pursuing sectarian policies. |
| IS is believed to have capitalised on that alienation when it captured large parts of northern and western Iraq last summer, routing the army. | IS is believed to have capitalised on that alienation when it captured large parts of northern and western Iraq last summer, routing the army. |
| Soldiers and allied Shia militiamen have now begun to retake territory north of the capital Baghdad with the help of US-led coalition air strikes, while Kurdish Peshmerga forces have made advances around Mosul. | Soldiers and allied Shia militiamen have now begun to retake territory north of the capital Baghdad with the help of US-led coalition air strikes, while Kurdish Peshmerga forces have made advances around Mosul. |
| In an interview with BBC World Affairs editor John Simpson, Mr Abadi said Iraqi government forces were "planning an offensive on Mosul in the next few months". | In an interview with BBC World Affairs editor John Simpson, Mr Abadi said Iraqi government forces were "planning an offensive on Mosul in the next few months". |
| However, he did not specify when the offensive might be launched, saying that he hoped it would be before the end of the year. | However, he did not specify when the offensive might be launched, saying that he hoped it would be before the end of the year. |
| The timing of the assault depended "on the situation on the ground" and "our own preparation", he said. | The timing of the assault depended "on the situation on the ground" and "our own preparation", he said. |
| Mr Abadi said the operation's success would also hinge upon close co-ordination between Iraqi security forces, the US military, and the Peshmerga. | Mr Abadi said the operation's success would also hinge upon close co-ordination between Iraqi security forces, the US military, and the Peshmerga. |
| "We don't want problems in liberating Mosul, or friction in that sense," he explained. | "We don't want problems in liberating Mosul, or friction in that sense," he explained. |
| The Iraqi leader said he initially wished that the US-led coalition could have acted faster in the campaign against IS. | The Iraqi leader said he initially wished that the US-led coalition could have acted faster in the campaign against IS. |
| "I was a bit frustrated in my first three months of being a prime minister because of the slowness of this support." | "I was a bit frustrated in my first three months of being a prime minister because of the slowness of this support." |
| But, he said, it had improved in the last four or five weeks, adding: "I think the air campaign has increased in its quality and intensity." | But, he said, it had improved in the last four or five weeks, adding: "I think the air campaign has increased in its quality and intensity." |
| Mr Abadi ruled out the need for US ground troops in the campaign, saying his country needed other forms of help, such as weapons and training. | Mr Abadi ruled out the need for US ground troops in the campaign, saying his country needed other forms of help, such as weapons and training. |
| He also said he opposed closer involvement from other countries in the region in the fight against IS. | He also said he opposed closer involvement from other countries in the region in the fight against IS. |
| "We welcome their support, but not for these countries to get involved inside Iraq." | "We welcome their support, but not for these countries to get involved inside Iraq." |
| "We will end up having not only helpers on our hand, but countries and intelligence agencies and armies trying to achieve their own interests." | "We will end up having not only helpers on our hand, but countries and intelligence agencies and armies trying to achieve their own interests." |
| Despite Mr Abadi's assertion, regional Shia power Iran has played a key role in countering IS inside Iraq. Tehran has sent Revolutionary Guards to advise the Iraqi security forces, Iranian pilots have carried out air strikes, and Iranian-backed Shia militia have been mobilised and armed. | Despite Mr Abadi's assertion, regional Shia power Iran has played a key role in countering IS inside Iraq. Tehran has sent Revolutionary Guards to advise the Iraqi security forces, Iranian pilots have carried out air strikes, and Iranian-backed Shia militia have been mobilised and armed. |
| Who are Islamic State (IS)? | Who are Islamic State (IS)? |