Islamic State conquers most of Ramadi

The black flag of the Islamic State now flies over the local government headquarters in the Iraqi city of Ramadi, after militants took over most of the western provincial capital on Friday.

Ramadi would be the first major city seized by the insurgents in Iraq since security forces and paramilitary groups began pushing them back last year.

IS insurgents launched an attack on Ramadi during the night, detonating six suicide car bombs, reaching the city centre, where the Anbar provincial government compound is located.

Government forces were still in control of a military command centre to the west of the city, however.

During a meeting with Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Friday, the heads of the air force and counterterrorism pledged to intensify efforts to "expel the terrorist gangs from Ramadi".

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has promised to speed up the supply of U.S. aid to Iraqi forces – consisting of heavy weaponry, anti-tank rockets, ammunition and other supplies, the White House said.

The battle for Ramadi has raged for months, but last April the insurgents redoubled their efforts to retake the city their offensive there in April, disrupting the government’s efforts to retake Anbar province and move north to the Islamic State stronghold of Mosul.