Official says Iraq’s ‘Ramadi has fallen’ to Islamic State

BAGHDAD (AP) -- A spokesman for the governor of Iraq's Anbar province says "Ramadi has fallen" to the Islamic State group.

Muhannad Haimour made the comment after the Islamic State group swept through the rest of the city Sunday.

Haimour also says the military's operational command in the city has been taken as well.

Federal authorities have yet to comment.

Earlier Sunday, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi ordered Shiite militias to prepare to go into the Sunni-dominated Anbar province, ignoring worries their presence could spark sectarian bloodshed apparently over fears the extremists could seize the entire province.

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