IRAQI FORCES CLAIM GAINS IN MOSUL BATTLE

baghdad » Iraq’s special forces declared their mission inmosul complete Saturday after the group retook the last western districts from the Islamic State group within their area of operation, according to a military spokesman.

The announcement came despite ongoing battles in a handful of western Mosul neighborhoods that continue to force hundreds of civilians to flee each day. The Islamic State still controls 8 square kilometers of westernmosul — including the dense Old City, where some of the toughest battles are expected to play out.

Special forces spokesman Sabah al-numan said his troops had completed their initial mission, but stood ready “to support any other forces if we are ordered to by the prime minister.”

Afghan veep flies to Turkey amid rumors ● kabul, afghanistan » Afghanistan’s controversial first vice president, who has been under investigation and virtual house arrest for months on accusations of assault, flew to Turkey on Saturday for “medical tests,” according to his aides and Afghan government officials.

But human rights groups, Afghan analysts and others said they suspect that Abdurrashid Dostum, 63, an ethnic Uzbek militia leader and former army general, had flown into exile to avoid prosecution, possibly in a deal with the government. He has not been charged with any crime.

Demonstrators oppose Rajoy in Spain ● barcelona, spain » Thousands rallied in Madrid on Saturday to support a no-confidence vote against conservative Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy brought by the far-left Podemos party.

Podemos organized the gathering to bolster its no-confidence vote against Rajoy’s ruling Popular Party, which has been hit by a series of corruption scandals.

Podemos registered its intention Friday to bring the no-confidence vote to Parliament.

The move includes presenting the party’s ponytailed leader, Pablo Iglesias, as an alternative candidate to replace Rajoy.

1,000 join gay pride march in Romania ● bucharest, romania » Some 1,000 people joined a gay pride march in the Romanian capital of Bucharest on Saturday, demanding greater rights amid government moves they say will curtail their rights.

Some 30 ambassadors expressed support for the march and for protecting the rights of the LGBT community and U.S. Ambassador Hans G. Klemm was among those taking part, despite the pouring rain.

The gay pride march, now in its 13th year in Romania, comes after lawmakers approved an initiative that could amend Romania’s constitution to explicitly state that marriage is a union between a man and woman.

The wording in the constitution now is a union between “spouses.”

Turkish newspaper prints blank protest ● istanbul » A Turkish opposition paper has published a “May 19 Press Freedom Special Edition,” left blank to protest the detentions of some staff members. Saturday’s edition of the Sozcu newspaper carried empty columns with writers’ names and also left the weather section blank.

It was a response to Friday’s detentions ofmediha Olgun, the editor of Sozcu’s website, and reporter Gokmen Ulu.

Detention warrants were also issued for owner Burak Akbay and head of finance Yonca Kaleli.

They are accused of committing crimes on behalf of the network of U.s.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen.

The Turkish government blames Gulen for last summer’s failed coup attempt — an allegation Gulen denies.