Fighting is raging between al Qaeda-backed militants and Iraq's security forces for control of two key cities in the embattled Anbar province, even as a deal was in place with Sunni tribesmen to fight alongside Iraqi police against the militant group. The renewed violence in the Sunni province has raised concern about the stability of the government amid dueling claims by the terror group and security forces over who was in control of Falluja and Ramadi. The Iraqi civil war never really ended it just went off the boil for a while. Last year, the heat was turned back to high, with the number of civilian deaths from political violence doubling to roughly 8,000 people over the previous year, the highest civilian death toll since at least 2008. Security forces backed by tanks on battled militants in Iraq's Anbar province, where fighting has displaced thousands and sparked warnings of rights abuses and a worsening humanitarian crisis. Some of the most significant fighting appeared to be in Falluja, where the U.S. military fought one of the bloodiest battles of the Iraq war, with militants planting al Qaeda flags on buildings. Gunmen calling themselves the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant, formerly known as al Qaeda in Iraq, took to a stage before thousands of Sunnis following Friday prayers in Falluja. "We call you to join us in our fight against the government of Nuri al-Maliki," one of the gunman said through a bullhorn. Authorities say gunmen have attacked an Iraqi army barracks north of Baghdad, killing 12 soldiers meaning that the militant attacks are spreading beyond Anbar. Human rights activists have condemned abuses by both government troops and insurgents in Iraq's Anbar province. "Apparently unlawful methods of fighting by all sides have caused civilian casualties," Human Rights Watch said in a report. The rights group criticised Iraqi forces and militants for carrying out attacks in residential areas. It comes as troops prepare to launch a major assault against al-Qaeda-linked militants in the city of Falluja. Map of Falluja: http://adf.ly/bsdWJ Map of Ramadi: http://adf.ly/bsdcQ

• published: 09 Jan 2014
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