Govt wraps up win in battle for Tikrit

Iraqi forces battled the last jihadists in Tikrit on Wednesday to seal a victory the government described as a milestone in efforts to rid the country of the Islamic State group.

Iraqi fighters picked their way through the rubble-strewn streets of the city, wary of any last-ditch attack from die-hard IS fighters and of the thousands of bombs they left behind.

A major military push saw Iraqi police and allied forces retake the city center on Tuesday but pockets of jihadist militants remained.