Iraq to declare Islamic State victory

Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi says from a military perspective Islamic State has been defeated, but a final victory will see it out of the desert.

Islamic State has been wiped out in Iraq from a military perspective, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi says, adding he will only announce final victory after routing its militants in the desert.

Political disagreements will pave the way for the Sunni militant group to carry out attacks, however, he said on Tuesday, in reference to the central Baghdad government's dispute with the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government over the latter's declaration of independence following a September 25 referendum.

Abadi, speaking in a weekly news conference, hailed a Supreme Federal Court verdict that ruled the referendum unconstitutional and called on Kurds not to resort to violence.