Press TV News in Brief: 17 October - 20:30 GMT

1. Iraqi forces liberate several villages as they launch a long-awaited offensive to retake the city of Mosul from Daesh terrorists. Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar Al-Abadi has renewed his call on Turkey to withdraw its forces from Iraq’s territory.

2. The UN has warned of quote-an exodus of refugees fleeing the fighting in Mosul.

3. Daesh has claimed responsibility for a car bombing that left 12 people dead in the Iraqi capital Baghdad.

4. Thousands of Greeks have rallied in the capital Athens against new proposed austerity measures.

5. Two explosions at Germany’s BASF chemical plants have left two people dead and several others severely injured.

6. Britain has closed accounts belonging to the Russian television network, RT, amid tensions between Moscow and the West.

7. At least eight inmates have been killed during a riot at a prison in Brazil’s Rondonia state.