Kurdish forces taking part in the offensive to retake the Iraqi city of Mosul from Islamic State (IS) militants are besieging a ke

Kurdish forces taking part in the offensive to retake the Iraqi city of Mosul from Islamic State (IS) militants are besieging a key town to the north.
Peshmerga fighters have surrounded Bashiqa, which lies on a crucial supply route only 12km (8 miles) from Mosul, on three sides, a commander said.
But the threat of suicide bomb attacks means they are advancing with caution.
The Iraqi military has meanwhile denied that Turkish forces are involved in the battle for Bashiqa. @Internationalrel