Iraqi forces and mainly Shi'ite militia battling to regain control of the city of Tikrit from Islamic State (IS) militants have paused their offensive for a second day to await reinforcements.
The Reuters news agency cites a source in the local military command as saying that military leaders had "reached a decision to halt the operation until a suitable, carefully set plan is in place" to break into central Tikrit. He did not give a timeline for the arrival of the reinforcements.
The military launched an offensive some 13 days ago to retake Tikrit, which was captured by IS fighters in June 2014.
A 30,000-strong force of government troops, Iranian-backed Shi'ite militia, and allied local tribal fighters has been mobilized for the operation, which is backed by Iraqi jets and helicopters.
But the advance was being slowed due to a great number of roadside bombs, booby-traps, and snipers.