DHAKA: An Iraqi provincial governor on Saturday gave militants controlling a city near Baghdad one week to surrender as government forces made steady progress in an effort to end a weeks-long crisis.

The Anbar governor’s ultimatum was directed at anti-government fighters who have held Fallujah for more than a month.

It comes amid a protracted surge in violence with security forces grappling with near-daily attacks nationwide in addition to the fighting in the western desert province.

Analysts and diplomats have called for the Shiite-led government to address Sunni grievances in order to undermine support for militants, but with April elections looming, prime minister Nuri al-Maliki has taken a hard line, reports The Straits Times.

BDST: 2017 HRS, FEB 08, 2014