Iraqi PM confident about swift recovery of IS-held city

London, May 25 (IANS/EFE) Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi told the BBC that the Iraqi city of Ramadi could be recovered "in days" after being captured by thwe Islamic State (IS) terrorist group.

Yet Al-Abadi noted the need for international support, and that Iraqi forces were surprised by the tactics used by IS, BBC on Monday cited him as saying in an interview.

"They (Iraqi forces) have the will to fight but when they are faced with an onslaught by (IS) from nowhere... with armoured trucks packed with explosives, the effect of them is like a small nuclear bomb -- it gives a very very bad effect on our forces," he explained.

The Iraqi government has deployed Shia militias to the area to prevent the advance of the jihadi insurgents, and al-Abadi was confident that Ramadi would be retrieved.

"It makes my heart bleed because we lost Ramadi, but I can assure you we can bring it back soon," the prime minister assured, stressing the need for more support from the international community, especially given IS's fighting strategies in Iraq and Syria.

"Syria is in chaos which made IS become stronger. We've asked our international coalition partners to tighten control over the border (between Syria and Iraq)," he added.

Al-Abadi also confirmed that both Iran and Jordan were providing support to tackle the terror wave spreading throughout the region.

--IANS/EFE

ab/dg