DHAKA: Iraqi PM Haider al-Abadi has said Islamic State (IS) will be ousted from the country, after government forces recaptured the city of Ramadi.

In a televised address, Abadi vowed to retake Iraq’s second city of Mosul, saying it would be “the fatal and final blow” to IS, reports the BBC.

The recapture of Ramadi was welcomed by US Secretary of State John Kerry, who said IS had suffered a major defeat.

The jihadists seized Ramadi in May, in an embarrassing defeat for the army.

Iraqi government forces have been fighting to retake the city - about 90km (55 miles) west of the capital, Baghdad - for weeks.

BDST: 0923 HRS, DEC 29, 2015
SR