IS Militants 'Bulldoze' Ancient City In Iraq

Islamic State militants have started bulldozing the ancient Assyrian city of Nimrud in northern Iraq, the country's tourism and antiquities ministry has said.

In a statement on its Facebook page, the ministry said IS had "assaulted the historic city of Nimrud and bulldozed it with heavy vehicles".

The statement did not elaborate on the damage, saying only the group continues to "defy the will of the world and the feelings of humanity" with its actions.

Officials said the destruction began after noon prayers on Thursday and that trucks that may have been used to take away artefacts had also been spotted at the site.

An Iraqi worker at the Nimrud archaeological site

"Until now, we do not know to what extent it was destroyed," the official said on condition of anonymity.

UNESCO has said the destruction, if true, "constitutes a war crime" and called on people around the world "especially youth" to protect "the heritage of the whole of humanity".

Video: Militants Destroy Iraqi Artefacts

Built in the 13th century BC, Nimrud is located on the Tigris River just south of Iraq's second largest city, Mosul, which was captured by IS in June.

The extremists, who control a third of Iraq and Syria, have attacked other archaeological and religious sites, claiming they encourage people to abandon Islam.

Abdulamir Hamdani, an Iraqi archaeologist from Stony Brook University, said: "I'm sorry to say everybody was expecting this. Their plan is to destroy Iraqi heritage, one site at a time.

"Hatra, of course, will be next," he said, referring to a beautifully-preserved city in Nineveh that is more than 2,000 years old and is a UNESCO world heritage site.

The destruction at Nimrud came a week after IS released a video showing militants armed with sledgehammers and jackhammers smashing priceless ancient artefacts at the Mosul museum.

That attack sparked widespread condemnation, with some archaeologists and heritage experts comparing it with the 2001 demolition of the Bamiyan Buddhas in Afghanistan by the Taliban.

Video: Iraqi Forces Begin Tikrit Assault

Last year, IS destroyed the Mosque of the Prophet Younis - or Jonah - and the Mosque of the Prophet Jirjis, two revered ancient shrines in Mosul.

The group also threatened to destroy the city's 850-year old Crooked Minaret, but local residents surrounded the structure, preventing the militants from approaching.

Iraq's national museum in Baghdad opened its doors to the public last week for the first time in 12 years in a move Prime Minister Haider al Abadi said was to defy efforts "to destroy the heritage of mankind and Iraq's civilisation".

IS has imposed a harsh and violent version of Islamic law in the territories it controls and has terrorised religious minorities.

A US-led coalition has launched a military campaign against the group, and this week Iraqi forces began an offensive to try to retake the city of Tikrit, on the main road linking Baghdad to Mosul.

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Tunisia: A Breeding Ground For Jihadists

By Sherine Tadros, Middle East Corrrespondent

It's seen as the success story of the Arab uprisings. In four years Tunisia has gone from revolution to reform - a stable democracy in a region blighted by conflict.

There may have been bumps along the road but it's been a relatively peaceful transition culminating in the first freely elected president in the country's history.

So many are asking why Tunisia is currently the biggest exporter of foreign fighters in the world, with thousands of young men travelling to Syria and Iraq to fight with the extremists.

Ex-IS recruit 'Khalil' tells Sherine Tadros 'everything was calculated'

Khalil (not his real name), 24, says he fought with Islamic State in Iraq's second city Mosul. Eventually he left, after being shot in the leg during battle.

But Khalil was not recruited to be a fighter. He says he was sought out by the group and offered money for a specific task.

Video: Life Inside Islamic State

"They told me you are doing something focusing on telecommunications, which is your specialty, so nobody can hack our communications. And in case someone is listening in, you would be notified," Khalil told Sky News.

"In terms of their structure, it was very strong. Everything was carefully calculated … even if you were going to the battlefield they would arrange things so a group would fight and another would pray and then they would swap ... there were even a group of therapists available."

Khalil describes himself as a moderate Muslim and admits he was attracted to join IS because it sounded adventurous, but after six months he started having doubts.

The Tunisian government says there are around 1,200 men who have left to fight in Syria, Iraq and now increasingly Libya, while other organisations say it's more than double that figure.

Tunisia has a history of exporting fighters to other countries like Iraq and Afghanistan. But since the toppling of former president Ben Ali's regime in 2011, the numbers have spiralled. The declining economy has certainly contributed to this phenomenon but not all the fighters come from poor backgrounds.

Mounir, 19, like hundreds of others here, was radicalised by Muslim preachers in his neighbourhood despite not being particularly interested in religion.

Video: Removing Extremists from Mosques

Seven of his friends have died fighting alongside extremist groups, including IS in Iraq and Syria. Although he says he's never gone to fight, he admits he and his friends do think about it.

"All of my friends have dropped out of school at an early stage. Their understanding of social science, politics, even in religion is very little. Even in schools they don't teach us about deep religious issues, you study simple Koran verses to please your parents, nothing complicated," Mounir told Sky News.

Although they are operating less visibly now than in 2012, ultra conservative - or Salafi - mosques and associations in Tunisia actively recruit and traffic young men through a network of intermediaries that facilitate their entry into Syria and Iraq.

Under the 23-year rule of former president Ben Ali, Islamist movements were persecuted, mosques shut down and thousands imprisoned.

Some Tunisians blame the moderate Islamist Ennahda government, which took over after Ben Ali was ousted in 2011, for the spike in numbers of foreign fighters.

They may not have agreed with the former president's crackdown but are also weary of the influence of hardliners within the Ennahda party.

Video: Returned Tunisians Imprisoned

One imam taking matters into his own hands is Sheikh Farid Beiji, a moderate cleric. He works with the government to identify extremist mosques and preachers.

For him, deradicalisation is possible by using the Koran to counter extremist ideology, but he admits it doesn't always work.

"We have studied how to turn young people from violence to non-violence... but for those who have reached an advanced state in adopting Islamic State's thinking, they don't listen to anyone," says Sheikh Farid.

Hundreds of fighters are returning home. A crackdown on so-called extremists under the new president has resulted in mass arrests, but with an increase in attacks on the police, some think the government's strategy is backfiring.

The heavier the crackdown, the more fuel you give to extremists to recruit young men, especially in prisons.

What's happening today is sure to have repercussions in Tunisia and elsewhere for generations to come.

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IS Militants 'Bulldoze' Ancient City In Iraq

Islamic State militants have started bulldozing the ancient Assyrian city of Nimrud in northern Iraq, the country's tourism and antiquities ministry has said.

In a statement on its Facebook page it said IS had "assaulted the historic city of Nimrud and bulldozed it with heavy vehicles".

The statement did not elaborate on the damage, saying only the group continues to "defy the will of the world and the feelings of humanity" with its actions.

An Iraqi antiquities official confirmed the news, saying the destruction began after noon prayers on Thursday and that trucks that may have been used to take away artefacts had also been spotted at the site.

An Iraqi worker at the Nimrud archaeological site

"Until now, we do not know to what extent it was destroyed," the official said on condition of anonymity.

Built in the 13th century BC, Nimrud is located on the Tigris River just south of Iraq's second largest city, Mosul, which was captured by IS in June.

Video: IS Fighters Destroy Iraqi Artifacts

The extremists, who control a third of Iraq and Syria, have attacked other archaeological and religious sites, claiming they encourage people to abandon Islam.

"I'm sorry to say everybody was expecting this. Their plan is to destroy Iraqi heritage, one site at a time," said Abdulamir Hamdani, an Iraqi archaeologist from Stony Brook University.

"Hatra, of course, will be next," he said, referring to a beautifully-preserved city in Nineveh that is more than 2,000 years old and is a UNESCO world heritage site.

The destruction at Nimrud came a week after IS released a video showing militants armed with sledgehammers and jackhammers smashing priceless ancient artefacts at the Mosul museum.

That attack sparked widespread condemnation, with some archaeologists and heritage experts comparing it with the 2001 demolition of the Bamiyan Buddhas in Afghanistan by the Taliban.

Video: Iraqi Forces Begin Tikrit Assault

Last year, IS destroyed the Mosque of the Prophet Younis - or Jonah - and the Mosque of the Prophet Jirjis, two revered ancient shrines in Mosul.

The group also threatened to destroy the city's 850-year old Crooked Minaret, but local residents surrounded the structure, preventing the militants from approaching.

Iraq's national museum in Baghdad opened its doors to the public last week for the first time in 12 years in a move Prime Minister Haider al Abadi said was to defy efforts "to destroy the heritage of mankind and Iraq's civilization".

IS has imposed a harsh and violent version of Islamic law in the territories it controls and has terrorised religious minorities.

A US-led coalition has launched a military campaign against the group, and this week Iraqi forces began an offensive to try to retake the city of Tikrit, on the main road linking Baghdad to Mosul.

10.52 | 0 komentar | Read More

Tunisia: A Breeding Ground For Jihadists

By Sherine Tadros, Middle East Corrrespondent

It's seen as the success story of the Arab uprisings. In four years Tunisia has gone from revolution to reform - a stable democracy in a region blighted by conflict.

There may have been bumps along the road but it's been a relatively peaceful transition culminating in the first freely elected president in the country's history.

So many are asking why Tunisia is currently the biggest exporter of foreign fighters in the world, with thousands of young men travelling to Syria and Iraq to fight with the extremists.

Ex-IS recruit 'Khalil' tells Sherine Tadros 'everything was calculated'

Khalil (not his real name), 24, says he fought with Islamic State in Iraq's second city Mosul. Eventually he left, after being shot in the leg during battle.

But Khalil was not recruited to be a fighter. He says he was sought out by the group and offered money for a specific task.

Video: Removing Extremists from Mosques

"They told me you are doing something focusing on telecommunications, which is your specialty, so nobody can hack our communications. And in case someone is listening in, you would be notified," Khalil told Sky News.

"In terms of their structure, it was very strong. Everything was carefully calculated … even if you were going to the battlefield they would arrange things so a group would fight and another would pray and then they would swap ... there were even a group of therapists available."

Khalil describes himself as a moderate Muslim and admits he was attracted to join IS because it sounded adventurous, but after six months he started having doubts.

The Tunisian government says there are around 1,200 men who have left to fight in Syria, Iraq and now increasingly Libya, while other organisations say it's more than double that figure.

Tunisia has a history of exporting fighters to other countries like Iraq and Afghanistan. But since the toppling of former president Ben Ali's regime in 2011, the numbers have spiralled. The declining economy has certainly contributed to this phenomenon but not all the fighters come from poor backgrounds.

Mounir, 19, like hundreds of others here, was radicalised by Muslim preachers in his neighbourhood despite not being particularly interested in religion.

Seven of his friends have died fighting alongside extremist groups, including IS in Iraq and Syria. Although he says he's never gone to fight, he admits he and his friends do think about it.

"All of my friends have dropped out of school at an early stage. Their understanding of social science, politics, even in religion is very little. Even in schools they don't teach us about deep religious issues, you study simple Koran verses to please your parents, nothing complicated," Mounir told Sky News.

Although they are operating less visibly now than in 2012, ultra conservative - or Salafi - mosques and associations in Tunisia actively recruit and traffic young men through a network of intermediaries that facilitate their entry into Syria and Iraq.

Video: Returned Tunisians Imprisoned

Under the 23-year rule of former president Ben Ali, Islamist movements were persecuted, mosques shut down and thousands imprisoned.

Some Tunisians blame the moderate Islamist Ennahda government, which took over after Ben Ali was ousted in 2011, for the spike in numbers of foreign fighters.

They may not have agreed with the former president's crackdown but are also weary of the influence of hardliners within the Ennahda party.

One imam taking matters into his own hands is Sheikh Farid Beiji, a moderate cleric. He works with the government to identify extremist mosques and preachers.

For him, deradicalisation is possible by using the Koran to counter extremist ideology, but he admits it doesn't always work.

"We have studied how to turn young people from violence to non-violence... but for those who have reached an advanced state in adopting Islamic State's thinking, they don't listen to anyone," says Sheikh Farid.

Hundreds of fighters are returning home. A crackdown on so-called extremists under the new president has resulted in mass arrests, but with an increase in attacks on the police, some think the government's strategy is backfiring.

The heavier the crackdown, the more fuel you give to extremists to recruit young men, especially in prisons.

What's happening today is sure to have repercussions in Tunisia and elsewhere for generations to come.

10.52 | 0 komentar | Read More

New York And Manchester Bomb Plotter Guilty

By Hannah Thomas-Peter, New York Correspondent

A man who was plotting to blow up the Arndale shopping centre in Manchester has been found guilty of terrorism offences in New York.

The jury convicted Abid Naseer, 28, of providing material support to al Qaeda, conspiracy to provide material support to the terror group and conspiracy to use a destructive device.

The verdict was reached at a federal court in Brooklyn. No date has yet been set for Naseer's sentencing.

During the trial prosecutors argued that Naseer played a major part in a global al Qaeda plot to launch coordinated attacks in Manchester, Copenhagen and New York City.

The attacks were designed to "replicate the devastation" of the attacks on 11 September, 2001.

Greater Manchester Police's chief investigating officer in the case, Detective Superintendent Mark Smith, told Sky News it was "as big a plot as we've seen in the UK, quite seriously".

He said: "The scale of the intended attack, the number of casualties that I think we would have seen in Manchester, would have been comparable to the 7/7 attack."

A witness points at Abid Naseer as she gives evidence during the trial

The court saw photographs of alleged co-conspirator Tariq Ur-Rehman, who was never charged, posing as a tourist at the Arndale centre and other locations.

The prosecution said the images were actually reconnaissance, and that the terror cell had concentrated on locations with glass-fronted shops to maximise casualties.

To assist with the US government's case, serving undercover MI5 agents gave evidence in full public view, disguised with wigs and makeup.

They described how they followed Naseer in March and April 2009, and the jury saw surveillance notes describing him watching a video of the 9/11 attacks on his mobile phone.

Det Supt Smith told Sky News that his operation had learned that Naseer had sent emails to a suspected al Qaeda handler speaking in coded language about an impending "wedding", meaning an attack.

He said: "Those emails indicated that he was ready to attack, and that attack was more than likely going to take place over the following weekend, which would have been the Easter bank holiday weekend."

But Manchester police were rushed into making arrests ahead of schedule when Britain's most senior counter-terrorism officer, Bob Quick, accidentally allowed details of the operation to be photographed as he walked into Downing Street.

Naseer planned to bomb the Arndale centre in Manchester (Pic: File)

Naseer and 11 others were taken into custody, but little evidence was found and all were released without charge.

In 2013 he was extradited to America.

Det Supt Smith said: "It's always disappointing not to be able to prosecute a case in the UK, but having said that, I just wanted to see Abid Naseer brought to justice."

One of the New York plotters who had planned to target the subway system, and who is already in prison, described receiving bomb-making training in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

He told the court how he had been taught to use ball bearings to injure and kill as many commuters as possible.

The prosecution said Naseer had received the same training, and was communicating using the same coded language with the same senior al Qaeda handlers.

Before they rested their case lawyers produced their final piece of evidence - never before seen documents recovered from the raid on Osama bin Laden's compound in Pakistan.

In a court building with a direct view of the 9/11 attack site, they said letters from senior terror chiefs to bin Laden made direct reference to the Manchester plot, and revealed the group's determination to attack America and its allies at home.

Naseer argued that he had come to the UK from Pakistan on a student visa to study and to find a wife.

He told the court that all the evidence against him was circumstantial, but it wasn't enough to convince the Brooklyn jury in federal court room 10A.

Naseer is facing life in prison.

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US Ambassador Slashed With Knife In Attack

The US ambassador to South Korea has been slashed on the face and wrist by a knife-wielding attacker shouting for unification of the divided peninsula.

President Barack Obama called his former aide Mark Lippert to wish him a swift recovery after the assault during a breakfast speech in Seoul.

The 42-year-old envoy was taken to hospital for treatment but his injuries were not life-threatening.

A State Department spokeswoman said: "We strongly condemn this act of violence."

Footage taken in aftermath of the attack, showed the ambassador being rushed out of the building holding one hand to his bleeding right cheek, with his other hand smeared with blood.

Security staff and police officers were seen jumping on the ambassador's assailant who was armed with a 10-inch blade.

Police have identified the attacker as 55-year-old Kim Ki-Jong, who has a previous conviction for assaulting the Japanese ambassador to Seoul in 2010.

District police chief Yoon Myung-Soon said: "We have detained him and are investigating the cause of the attack and other circumstances."

A spokesman for the Korea Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation, which hosted the event, apologised for the lack of security.

Mr Lippert, a long-time adviser to President Obama and former US assistant secretary of defense for Asian affairs, only took up his post in South Korea last October.

Mr Lippert had also previously served as a intelligence officer for naval special operations, and won a Bronze Star Medal following a tour in Iraq.

South and North Korea have been divided since the 1950-53 Korean War and are still technically at war because the fighting ended in a truce.

The US and South Korea launched annual joint military exercises this week leading to heightened tensions with the communist North.

Pyongyang claims they are rehearsals for an invasion, while South Korea and the US argue they are purely defensive.

America has almost 30,000 troops permanently stationed in the South.

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Briton Dies Fighting Against IS, Reports Say

A British man reportedly killed while fighting against Islamic State in Syria has been named by Kurdish sources.

Konstandinos Erik Scurfield was believed to be fighting alongside Kurdish YPG forces in the northern province of Hasakah.

The details of the death were confirmed by British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights - but it said it was not clear whether the man was a British national or a Greek man who had been living in Britain.

The Foreign Office is investigating reports the dead man is a former Royal Marine.

Sky sources have confirmed a man with the same name used to serve with the Royal Marines.

Video: Syria: Brit Killed Fighting IS

Pro-Kurdish rights activist Mark Campbell told Sky News he broke the news of the man's death to his family.

"To be honest it was a harrowing phone call.

"There were three questions really his mother wanted to know immediately...

"She wanted to know if there's a body - and there is. She wanted to know when he died - he died yesterday. And she wanted to know  if he died in combat - which he had."

He was wounded during fighting between the towns of Tal Hamis and al Hol and died from his wounds.

The Foreign Office said in a statement: "We are aware of reports of the death of a British national in Syria.

"As we do not have any representation in Syria, it is extremely difficult to get any confirmation of deaths or injuries and our options for supporting British nationals there are extremely limited."

Rami Abdulrahman, the head of the observatory, said just over 100 Western fighters have joined Kurdish forces in Syria from countries including the US, France, Spain and the Netherlands.

Their numbers are small in comparison with those foreign recruits who have joined IS and other hardline groups.

An Australian man fighting with Kurdish forces was killed in the country last week, the Observatory and a Kurdish source said.

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Bali Nine Drug Smugglers Taken To Execution Jail

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The prisoners were taken from the jail in Bali in armoured cars

Two Australian men convicted of drug smuggling in Indonesia have been taken from a prison in Bali to an island where they face execution by firing squad.

Myuran Sukumaran, 33, and Andrew Chan, 31, were found guilty in 2005 of being the ringleaders of the so-called "Bali Nine" drug smuggling gang.

They were sentenced to death the following year.

The transfer took place amid tight security involving hundreds of police

Australia has been pursuing a campaign to save the men - but the Indonesian president has refused to grant them clemency.

The pair lost their latest appeal in February.

1/14

1. Gallery: Australian Prisoners Convicted Over Drug Smuggling

   The Bali Nine are a group of Australians jailed for attempting to smuggle over £2m of heroin out of Indonesia. Their sentences vary: some face life - the ringleaders face the firing squad

Named as one of the ringleaders of the heroin smuggling operation, Andrew Chan was 21 years old when he was arrested

]]>

Si Yi Chen was first sentenced to life imprisonment. He appealed against the decision but was then given the death penalty. After an appeal he was sentenced to 20 years

]]>

Michael Czugaj was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2006. He also appealed against the decision but the sentence was upheld later in the year

]]>

Matthew Norman was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2006 but the Supreme Court imposed the death penalty after he appealed

]]>

The case has heightened diplomatic tensions between the two countries with Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott saying he was "revolted" by the planned executions.

But Indonesian President Joko Widodo has warned foreign governments seeking clemency against interfering in his country's sovereign affairs.

The two Australians were reported to be in one of two armoured vehicles that left Kerobokan Prison before dawn on Wednesday, amid a major security operation involving hundreds of police.

They were taken to Bali's airport for the flight to the island of Nusakambangan, where executions are carried out at its maximum security prison.

Video: 2013 - Inside Infamous Bali Jail

The pair are among 11 prisoners due to be shot by firing squad, mostly for drug crimes.

The Australian government has stressed that Sukumaran and Chan have been rehabilitated in prison, where they had mentored younger inmates.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has said Canberra would consider recalling its ambassador if the executions went ahead, as Brazil and the Netherlands did after executions in January, the first since Mr Widodo came to power.

Six prisoners, including five foreigners from the Netherlands, Brazil, Malawi, Nigeria and Vietnam, were shot by firing squad in January.

1/6

1. Gallery: Possible Sentences For Crimes In Indonesia

   Illegal Killing: Capital punishment, life imprisonment or up to 20 years for murder

Rape: Maximum sentence of 12 years

]]>

Mr Abbott said: "I think there are millions of Australians who feel sick to their stomachs about what's likely to happen to these two men who committed a terrible crime, a terrible crime.

"But the position of Australia is that we abhor drug crime but we abhor the death penalty as well, which we think is beneath a country like Indonesia."

Indonesia resumed executions in 2013 after a five-year moratorium.

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We use cookies to give you the best experience. If you do nothing we'll assume that it's ok.

The prisoners were taken from the jail in Bali in armoured cars

Two Australian men convicted of drug smuggling in Indonesia have been taken from a prison in Bali to an island where they face execution by firing squad.

Myuran Sukumaran, 33, and Andrew Chan, 31, were found guilty in 2005 of being the ringleaders of the so-called "Bali Nine" drug smuggling gang.

They were sentenced to death the following year.

The transfer took place amid tight security involving hundreds of police

Australia has been pursuing a campaign to save the men - but the Indonesian president has refused to grant them clemency.

The pair lost their latest appeal in February.

1/14

1. Gallery: Australian Prisoners Convicted Over Drug Smuggling

   The Bali Nine are a group of Australians jailed for attempting to smuggle over £2m of heroin out of Indonesia. Their sentences vary: some face life - the ringleaders face the firing squad

Named as one of the ringleaders of the heroin smuggling operation, Andrew Chan was 21 years old when he was arrested

]]>

Si Yi Chen was first sentenced to life imprisonment. He appealed against the decision but was then given the death penalty. After an appeal he was sentenced to 20 years

]]>

Michael Czugaj was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2006. He also appealed against the decision but the sentence was upheld later in the year

]]>

Matthew Norman was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2006 but the Supreme Court imposed the death penalty after he appealed

]]>

The case has heightened diplomatic tensions between the two countries with Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott saying he was "revolted" by the planned executions.

But Indonesian President Joko Widodo has warned foreign governments seeking clemency against interfering in his country's sovereign affairs.

The two Australians were reported to be in one of two armoured vehicles that left Kerobokan Prison before dawn on Wednesday, amid a major security operation involving hundreds of police.

They were taken to Bali's airport for the flight to the island of Nusakambangan, where executions are carried out at its maximum security prison.

Video: 2013 - Inside Infamous Bali Jail

The pair are among 11 prisoners due to be shot by firing squad, mostly for drug crimes.

The Australian government has stressed that Sukumaran and Chan have been rehabilitated in prison, where they had mentored younger inmates.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has said Canberra would consider recalling its ambassador if the executions went ahead, as Brazil and the Netherlands did after executions in January, the first since Mr Widodo came to power.

Six prisoners, including five foreigners from the Netherlands, Brazil, Malawi, Nigeria and Vietnam, were shot by firing squad in January.

1/6

1. Gallery: Possible Sentences For Crimes In Indonesia

   Illegal Killing: Capital punishment, life imprisonment or up to 20 years for murder

Rape: Maximum sentence of 12 years

]]>

Mr Abbott said: "I think there are millions of Australians who feel sick to their stomachs about what's likely to happen to these two men who committed a terrible crime, a terrible crime.

"But the position of Australia is that we abhor drug crime but we abhor the death penalty as well, which we think is beneath a country like Indonesia."

Indonesia resumed executions in 2013 after a five-year moratorium.

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1. Breaking News: Briton Dies Fighting Against IS, Reports Say
2. Appeal To Find 'Dangerous' Foreign Suspects
3. NHS Quizzed Over Proton Beam Cancer Therapy
4. UKIP To Reveal Oz-Style Immigration Policy
5. Becky Watts Search: Police Find Body Parts

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Iraqi Forces Launch Operation To Recapture Tikrit

Iraqi security forces have launched a major military operation to take back the town of Tikrit from Islamic State militants.

Some 30,000 troops and militia, supported by aircraft, attacked jihadist positions around the city.

The hometown of Saddam Hussein, it fell under the control of the group last summer along with Iraq's second-largest city of Mosul.

Backed by air strikes from the US-led coalition, Iraqi troops recently seized the nearby refinery town of Baiji.

US military officials have said an operation to retake Mosul could begin in April or May and involve up to 25,000 Iraqi troops, but would only take place if Tikrit has been recaptured because of its strategic location on the road to Mosul.

Video: Iraqi Forces Begin Tikrit Assault

Al-Iraqiya television said forces were attacking Tikrit from different directions and were being supported by artillery and air strikes from Iraqi fighters.

Ahead of the operation, Prime Minister Haider al Abadi called on Sunni tribal fighters to abandon IS, and offering what he described as "the last chance" to get an official pardon.

He said: "I call upon those who have been misled or committed a mistake to lay down arms and join their people and security forces in order to liberate their cities."

Mr al Abadi also called for "utmost care in protecting civilian lives and property".

According to Iraqi and Iranian media, Qassem Soleimani - commander of the Quds Force covert operations unit in Iran's Revolutionary Guard - was in Salahuddin province to help coordinate the operation.

Hadi al Ameri, commander of the government-controlled volunteer group Popular Mobilisation, called for residents in Tikrit to leave their homes so government forces could "wrap up the battle of the revenge for Speicher".

Speicher is a military base near Tikrit from where hundreds of mostly Shia recruits were kidnapped and executed in June last year at the start of the IS offensive north of Baghdad.

Iraqi forces have tried and failed several times to recapture Tikrit, which is around 100 miles north of Baghdad.

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Netanyahu: US Relations 'Stronger Than Ever'

By Sky News US Team

Israel's prime minister has told America's largest pro-Israel lobby the two countries' ties are "stronger than ever" despite disagreements over nuclear talks with Iran.

Benjamin Netanyahu's appearance at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) came on the eve of a speech to the US Congress which has fuelled a rift with the Obama administration.

Mr Netanyahu accepted an invite from congressional Republicans to speak later, which was not co-ordinated with the White House.

He said: "Reports of the demise of the US-Israeli alliance are not only premature, but they're just wrong. Our alliance is stronger than ever."

Samantha Power, US ambassador to the UN, also extolled US-Israeli ties

Mr Netanyahu added: "My speech is not intended to show any disrespect to President Obama or the office he holds. I have great respect for both."

The White House was said to be infuriated because it was not consulted in advance of the invite, violating typical protocol.

It has also left Democrats in the uncomfortable position of being forced to choose between showing support for Israel and backing their president.

Sky News US correspondent Dominic Waghorn, in Washington DC, says: "For Mr Netanyahu to claim he did not intend any disrespect to Mr Obama is utterly disingenuous. 

"Accepting the invitation to speak to Congress was an extraordinary breach with precedent and protocol. 

Mr Obama and Mr Netanyahu are said to have a tense relationship

"Mr Netanyahu knows Washington well enough to realise that a foreign government working with America's opposition party behind the back of the White House would only infuriate and offend the President."

However, the Israeli leader told AIPAC he had been compelled to address a "potential deal with Iran that could threaten the survival of Israel".

Mr Netanyahu is wary of the Obama administration's efforts to reach a nuclear agreement with Israel's arch-foe.

He fears Tehran will be left on the cusp of building the bomb, though the Iranians say their programme is for energy purposes.

Secretary of State John Kerry is in Geneva for talks with Iran

Samantha Power, US ambassador to the UN, was applauded earlier as she assured the AIPAC conference: "There will never be a sunset on America's commitment to Israel's security. Never."

She also told the 16,000 delegates: "The United States will not allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon. Period."

House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner plans to present Mr Netanyahu with a bust of Winston Churchill at his speech.

The gift was chosen as Mr Netanyahu and Britain's wartime prime minister are the only foreign leaders to have addressed Congress three separate times.

But the White House has said President Obama would not meet Mr Netanyahu because such an invite could be construed as showing bias in Israel's 17 March elections.

Last week, Mr Obama's national security adviser, Susan Rice, described the manner of Mr Netanyahu's visit as "destructive" for the US-Israeli relationship.

His trip comes as a 31 March target looms for a framework deal with Iran in exchange for possible sanctions relief.

On Monday, Secretary of State John Kerry was in Switzerland for another round of talks with Iran.

The US is negotiating alongside Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China.

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'Callous' Murder Of Boris Nemtsov Condemned

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Video: Leading Critic Of Putin Shot Dead

David Cameron has condemned the killing of Russia's former deputy prime minister Boris Nemstov as "despicable" and "callous".

The Prime Minister added the Russian people had been deprived of a champion of their rights and that Mr Nemtsov was greatly admired in Britain, not least by Margaret Thatcher.

"I am shocked and sickened by the callous murder of Boris Nemtsov as he walked in the heart Moscow last night," he said.

Mr Nemtsov served as deputy prime minister in Boris Yeltsin's government

"This despicable act must be fully, rapidly and transparently investigated, and those responsible brought to justice."

Thousands of Russians have been laying flowers and candles in tribute to the 55-year-old at scene of the killing near the Kremlin walls in Moscow.

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1. Gallery: Tributes Left At Scene Of Boris Nemtsov Murder

   Supporters of Boris Nemtsov have left flowers at the scene of his murder near St Basil's Cathedral in Moscow

The Russian opposition politician, a fierce critic of President Vladimir Putin, was shot four times in the back within sight of the Kremlin

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Nemtsov had received death threats, but it's claimed no steps were taken by police to offer him protection

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Mr Putin has condemned the death and said he believes it could be a contract killing

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Mr Nemtsov, who was a fierce critic of President Vladimir Putin, died after being shot four times by an unidentified attacker in a passing car during the early hours of Saturday.

According to colleagues, he was working on a report which apparently included concrete evidence that Russia was directly involved in the separatist movement which erupted in Ukraine last year.

At the time of the attack, Mr Nemtsov was walking along a bridge with a Ukrainian woman, who was not injured.

She is now being questioned by police.

Investigators say the killing was the work of one or more gunmen who shot at Mr Nemtsov seven or eight times.

The politician had received death threats on social media, but no steps were taken by the police to offer him protection, according to his lawyer, Vadim Prokhorov.

Russia's investigative committee are pursuing several lines of enquiry, including an Islamist extremist attack and links to the Ukraine crisis.

A senior opposition politician, Mr Nemtsov was an outspoken detractor of Mr Putin's administration - and had planned to attend an "anti-crisis march" through the capital on Sunday.

The economist had said in an interview with Russian media: "Every time I called (my mother), she laments: 'When are you going to stop scolding Putin? He will kill you!'"

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1. Gallery: Profile: Who Was Boris Nemtsov?

   Rose to prominence under Boris Yeltsin in the 1990s and grew into a fierce critic of Vladimir Putin. He was also an environmentalist, a nuclear scientist and father of four

In 1997 he was made deputy prime minister and put in charge of economic reform. The economic crisis of 1998 cost him his job in parliament and any presidential hopes he had

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Mr Putin has condemned the death, which he said looked like a "contract killing" - adding that he will personally oversee the investigation into the shooting.

In a message to Mr Nemtsov's mother, he said: "Everything will be done so that the organisers and perpetrators of a vile and cynical murder get the punishment they deserve."

Meanwhile, the White House has demanded that the investigation is "prompt, impartial and transparent".

President Obama, who met Mr Nemtsov in 2009, described him as a "tireless advocate" for the rights of Russian citizens, and cited his work in fighting corruption.

Russia's Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev tweeted: "Boris Nemtsov was an outstanding individual and a man of principle. This is how we will remember him."

Garry Kasparov, chairman of the Human Rights Foundation, tweeted: "Devastated to hear of the brutal murder of my long-time opposition colleague Boris Nemtsov. Shot four times, once for each child he leaves."

The political activist added: "Politkovskaya was gunned down. MH17 was shot out of the sky. Now Boris is dead.

"As always, Kremlin will blame opposition, or CIA, whatever."

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We use cookies to give you the best experience. If you do nothing we'll assume that it's ok.

Video: Leading Critic Of Putin Shot Dead

David Cameron has condemned the killing of Russia's former deputy prime minister Boris Nemstov as "despicable" and "callous".

The Prime Minister added the Russian people had been deprived of a champion of their rights and that Mr Nemtsov was greatly admired in Britain, not least by Margaret Thatcher.

"I am shocked and sickened by the callous murder of Boris Nemtsov as he walked in the heart Moscow last night," he said.

Mr Nemtsov served as deputy prime minister in Boris Yeltsin's government

"This despicable act must be fully, rapidly and transparently investigated, and those responsible brought to justice."

Thousands of Russians have been laying flowers and candles in tribute to the 55-year-old at scene of the killing near the Kremlin walls in Moscow.

1/12

1. Gallery: Tributes Left At Scene Of Boris Nemtsov Murder

   Supporters of Boris Nemtsov have left flowers at the scene of his murder near St Basil's Cathedral in Moscow

The Russian opposition politician, a fierce critic of President Vladimir Putin, was shot four times in the back within sight of the Kremlin

]]>

Nemtsov had received death threats, but it's claimed no steps were taken by police to offer him protection

]]>

Mr Putin has condemned the death and said he believes it could be a contract killing

]]>

]]>

Mr Nemtsov, who was a fierce critic of President Vladimir Putin, died after being shot four times by an unidentified attacker in a passing car during the early hours of Saturday.

According to colleagues, he was working on a report which apparently included concrete evidence that Russia was directly involved in the separatist movement which erupted in Ukraine last year.

At the time of the attack, Mr Nemtsov was walking along a bridge with a Ukrainian woman, who was not injured.

She is now being questioned by police.

Investigators say the killing was the work of one or more gunmen who shot at Mr Nemtsov seven or eight times.

The politician had received death threats on social media, but no steps were taken by the police to offer him protection, according to his lawyer, Vadim Prokhorov.

Russia's investigative committee are pursuing several lines of enquiry, including an Islamist extremist attack and links to the Ukraine crisis.

A senior opposition politician, Mr Nemtsov was an outspoken detractor of Mr Putin's administration - and had planned to attend an "anti-crisis march" through the capital on Sunday.

The economist had said in an interview with Russian media: "Every time I called (my mother), she laments: 'When are you going to stop scolding Putin? He will kill you!'"

1/6

1. Gallery: Profile: Who Was Boris Nemtsov?

   Rose to prominence under Boris Yeltsin in the 1990s and grew into a fierce critic of Vladimir Putin. He was also an environmentalist, a nuclear scientist and father of four

In 1997 he was made deputy prime minister and put in charge of economic reform. The economic crisis of 1998 cost him his job in parliament and any presidential hopes he had

]]>

Mr Putin has condemned the death, which he said looked like a "contract killing" - adding that he will personally oversee the investigation into the shooting.

In a message to Mr Nemtsov's mother, he said: "Everything will be done so that the organisers and perpetrators of a vile and cynical murder get the punishment they deserve."

Meanwhile, the White House has demanded that the investigation is "prompt, impartial and transparent".

President Obama, who met Mr Nemtsov in 2009, described him as a "tireless advocate" for the rights of Russian citizens, and cited his work in fighting corruption.

Russia's Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev tweeted: "Boris Nemtsov was an outstanding individual and a man of principle. This is how we will remember him."

Garry Kasparov, chairman of the Human Rights Foundation, tweeted: "Devastated to hear of the brutal murder of my long-time opposition colleague Boris Nemtsov. Shot four times, once for each child he leaves."

The political activist added: "Politkovskaya was gunned down. MH17 was shot out of the sky. Now Boris is dead.

"As always, Kremlin will blame opposition, or CIA, whatever."

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2. MI5 Made Emwazi Feel Like 'A Dead Man Walking'
3. 'Toxic Environment' At Emwazi's University
4. Boy, 15, Stabbed To Death While Cycling
5. Two Held Over Missing Teen Becky Watts

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MI5 Made Emwazi Feel Like 'A Dead Man Walking'

The Londoner identified as "Jihadi John" told a journalist in 2010 that harassment by British security services had made him fear he was a "dead man walking", it has been revealed.

Years before his reign of terror in Islamic State videos began, Mohammed Emwazi emailed a reporter to claim that several run-ins with intelligence officials had left him contemplating suicide.

The 26-year-old described coming face-to-face with someone who he suspected was a British spy - months after he graduated from the University of Westminster.

Emwazi was attempting to sell a laptop when he became suspicious of the mystery buyer, according to messages he sent to a Mail on Sunday reporter.

He wrote: "Sometimes I feel like a dead man walking, not fearing they (MI5) may kill me.

Video: Jihadi John Classmate Interview

"Rather, fearing that one day, I'll take as many pills as I can so that I will sleep for ever! I just want to get away from these people!"

The correspondence was released on Sunday night - hours after a tranche of messages between Emwazi and a campaign group emerged.

He began emailing the CAGE organisation after he was questioned by counter-terrorism officers while attempting to fly from Heathrow to his native Kuwait in 2010 - and claimed the security services were "stopping him from living his new life" abroad, where he had secured a job and was getting married.

Video: Mohammed Emwazi: What We Know

In one message, the graduate wrote: "I feel like a prisoner, only not in a cage, (but) in London. A person imprisoned and controlled by security service men."

Emwazi appears vulnerable in several of his emails, and asks for advice in complaining to his MP and the Independent Police Complaints Commission about the treatment he had received.

After being told by British officials that he would not be allowed to move to Kuwait, he told CAGE: "I'm not going to give up!! I'm going to wait for my Dad to come back so that we can visit the Kuwaiti embassy in London… going to the embassy myself won't be successful."

Video: PM Defends Security Services

The last email that Emwazi sent to CAGE in January 2012 showed no indication of the violent acts of terror he would soon be involved in - and had the subject title: "Smile, it's me again?! Sorry for the headaches I cause…"

When Emwazi was first unmasked as "Jihadi John" earlier this week, representatives from CAGE described him as "extremely kind and gentle" and "the most humble young person we ever knew".

He is believed to be involved in the cold-blooded murders of at least five Western aid workers and journalists who were taken hostage by Islamic State in Syria. They include two Britons: Alan Henning and David Haines.

Video: 'Jihadi John' Identified

The University of Westminster has been accused of allowing a toxic environment of radical Islam within the institution, a charge it vehemently denies. Emwazi earned a computer programming degree at one of its campuses.

Meanwhile, the high school where the militant studied, Quintin Kynaston Academy, is being investigated by the Department for Education - after a Sunday Telegraph report claimed that two other pupils from the north London school had been killed fighting for al Qaeda and al Shabaab.

A Government spokeswoman added: "The allegations about Quintin Kynaston may be historic - and it is clearly a completely different school today - but I'm sure we will look back at evidence from the time as part of this review to see if there are any lessons we can learn for the future."

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