DHAKA: The prime minister of Iraq has urged the Islamic State (IS) group to surrender as government troops close in on its last urban stronghold in the country, Mosul.

Haider al-Abadi appeared on state TV wearing combat fatigues and said, “They have no choice. Either they surrender or they die”.

Iraqi special forces are now about 1-km away from Mosul’s eastern edge and preparing to enter.

Units of the army are meanwhile advancing from the south.

Using another name for IS, al-Abadi said, “We will close in on Daesh from all angles and God willing we will cut the snake’s head. They will have no way out and no way to escape”.

Al-Abadi is the commander-in-chief of the Iraqi armed forces.

The BBC’s Ian Pannell, who is traveling with Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) troops, says there was some resistance to their advance on Monday.

He said IS car bombs targeted the convoy.

BDST: 1157 HRS, NOV 01, 2016
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