The Strategic Shiite-majority **rth Iraq town of Tal Afar and its airport were in the hands of Sunni Arab militants on Monday after days of heavy fighting, a local official and witnesses said. "The town of Tal Afar and the airport... are completely under the control of the militants," the official said on condition of a**nymity. Witnesses said security forces had departed the town, and confirmed that militants were in control. Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's security spokesman, Lieutenant General Qassem Atta, said on television that security forces were still fighting in the Tal Afar area.