Witness in fall of Mosul investigation 'found killed'

A main witness in an investigation into the fall of the Iraqi city of Mosul to the Islamic State group has been assassinated, The New Arab's Arabic-language service has reported.

Mohammed Salim al-Fatlawi was found murdered last week on the side of the road between the cities of Babel and Karbala, a security source said.

"The killing is directly related to his role in the investigation into the fall of Mosul," the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, alleged.

Fatlawi was a military communications officer in Mosul when IS seized Mosul in 2014. The jihadi group's lightning offensive saw overwhelmed Iraqi troops abandon their posts and flee the country's second city.

According to the report, the officer had spoken to a parliamentary commission set up to investigate the circumstances of the capture of Mosul.

He reportedly had information about the final communications between Baghdad and Mosul before the city was overrun by the extremists.

A parliamentary report in 2015 held 36 senior politicians and military officials - including former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki - responsible for the fall of the city.

Last year, the former governor of Mosul told The New Arab that authorities "handed over" the city to IS.

"Mosul did not fall, [it] was handed over to Daesh [IS]. The Federal Police did not fight and withdrew gradually...without firing a single bullet," Atheel al-Nujaifi said.

Iraq declared victory over IS in December after expelling the group from all urban centres including Mosul in a vast military campaign.

The fightback was bolstered by Shia paramilitary groups, who mobilise following calls by clerics - including Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani - to defend the country from IS.