Iraqi forces in Mosul take government complex from Islamic State

Iraqi forces have recaptured a government complex in western Mosul from Islamic State fighters.

Troops hoisted an Iraqi flag on top of the buildings in the Dawasa district and Lt Gen Abdul-Amir Raheed Yar Allah hailed the federal police as "heroes".

A Joint Operations Command statement said: "The heroes of the federal police and Rapid Response liberate the government building for Nineveh province and control the second bridge (Al-Hurriyah Bridge)."

The operation to retake west Mosul - the extremist group's largest remaining urban stronghold - was launched on 19 February, but the advance had been hampered by several days of bad weather until a renewed push began last week.

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Lt Gen Yar Allah, who commands army operations in Ninevah, Mosul's provincial capital, said the troops also control the western side of a second bridge across the Tigris River.