Source: CNN
(CNN) — Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki urged parliament to declare a state of emergency Tuesday, hours after police said militants seized control of portions of Iraq’s second-largest city, Mosul, and freed up to 1,000 prisoners.
Authorities said the militants were also in control of the Mosul airport, local TV stations and the governor’s offices. The gunmen are believed to be members of the extremist group the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, an al Qaeda splinter group also known by its acronym ISIS. Many foreign fighters are believed to be among their number, senior police officials said.
Categories: Asia