Iraq troops 'push Islamic State from oil town of Baiji'

Iraqi officials say their forces have driven out Islamic State (IS) fighters from the oil refinery town of Baiji, 200km (130 miles) north of Baghdad, the BBC reported.

Gen Abdul-Wahab al-Saadi told Iraqi state TV that the town "had been completely liberated."

There are still reports of heavy fighting around the oil refinery, which is Iraq's largest.

IS seized Baiji in June during a lightning advance through northern Iraq and laid siege to the refinery.

The group, which also controls large parts of northern Syria, has been the target of a US-led military campaign since August.

Iraqi troops took control of large parts of Baiji on Sunday, but stopped short of advancing on the refinery, the road to which is believed to be heavily booby-trapped.

Iraqi war planes targeted fleeing IS fighters near the refinery on Friday, an Iraqi army captain told Reuters news agency.

Other reports suggested Iraqi troops had now broken through to the besieged facility.