Iraqi forces and mainly Shi'ite militia battling to wrest full control of the city of Tikrit from Islamic State (IS) militants paused their offensive for a second day yesterday as they awaited reinforcements.

A source in the local military command centre told reporters military commanders had "reached a decision to halt the operation until a suitable, carefully set plan is in place" to break into central Tikrit. The source, speaking by phone from near Tikrit, said the Iraqi forces and Iranian-backed Shi'ite militias known as Hashid Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation) were waiting for reinforcements from "well-trained forces". He did not give a timeline for the arrival of the reinforcements.