Falluja 'fight is over': Iraqi commander

Senior Iraqi commander Lieutenant General Abdul-Wahab al-Saadi has declared that Falluja is fully liberated from the Islamic State militants following a month-long military operation.

Abdul, the head of the counterterrorism forces in the operation, said the Iraqi troops entered the north-western Golan neighbourhood, adding the operation, which began in late May, was complete and the city was "fully liberated".

The Iraqi army was backed by the U.S.-led coalition airstrikes and paramilitary troops, mostly Shia militias.

"From the centre of Golan neighbourhood, we congratulate the Iraqi people and the commander in chief . and declare that the Falluja fight is over," the Guardian quoted him as saying.

Falluja was under the control of ISIS since January 2014.

Meanwhile, Iraq's Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi declared victory over the militants on Friday, but parts of the city remained under ISIS control.

The Iraqi Government now faces an enormous challenge in catering for more than 80,000 refugees who have fled Falluja to camps on the city's outskirts and are short of water and food.