Islamic State crisis: Militants seize Ramadi stronghold

Islamic State militants have seized the main government building in Ramadi, the capital of Iraq's largest province.

As many as six suicide car bombs and mortars were used in the assault on the compound that houses the main police HQ and governor's office.

At least 50 security personnel are reported to have been taken hostage at the site.

IS and Iraqi troops have been battling for months to take control of the strategically important Anbar province.

Iraq's prime minister in April pledged his forces would "liberate" the heavily-Sunni province, which stretches west from the capital Baghdad to the Syrian border.

However, the BBC's Ahmed Maher reports from Baghdad that the militants have asserted their control over half of Anbar and now control large areas of Ramadi.