Iraqi troops aided by Shi'ite paramilitaries have driven the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) out of central Tikrit, Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi said on Tuesday, but the fight to retake all of Saddam Hussein's home town continued.Government forces have been in a month-long fight for the city, which became a bastion for the ISIS militants who are at war with Baghdad and have been targeted by U.S.-led air strikes.Hundreds of insurgents ready to fight to the death are still holed up in Salahuddin province's capital city and at least three neighbourhoods remain under ISIS control, along with a palace complex in the city's north.The further Iraqi forces push into the city, the greater the risk of ambushes."Our security forces have reached the centre of Tikrit and they have liberated the southern and western sides and they are moving towards the control of the whole city," Abadi said in a statement.In their push from southern Tikrit, security forces and paramilitary fighters retook the governor's headquarters and the main hospital which had been occupied by ISIS.Reuters journalists travelling with the police passed houses scarred by bullets, mortars and rockets as well as five or six corpses that security officers said were ISIS fighters, adding that they might be rigged with explosives.

Iraqi officials suspect the militants have planted scores of bombs and are using snipers and a network of underground tunnels and bunkers to slow the government advance.

British Deputy Foreign Minister Elwood made a statement Thursday about Iraqi troops' success in driving ISIS out of Tikrit. He said, "I'm pleased to hear that the Iraqi flag is flapping again in the skies of Tikrit."