Islamic State leader calls on all Muslims to aid 'caliphate'
Video released on known militant website appears to show Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi issuing clarion call for jihad
Chris Johnston and agencies
@cajuk
Sat 5 Jul 2014 11.19 EDT First published on Sat 5 Jul 2014 11.19 EDT
A still from the video appearing to show Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The photo was tweeted by the jihadist affiliated group Furqan Media amd cannot be verified independently. Photograph: Furqan Media/EPA
The leader of the Islamic State jihadist group has purportedly ordered all Muslims to obey him in a video, released on Saturday.
The elusive Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who on 29 June proclaimed a "caliphate" straddling Syria and Iraq, made his appeal in a sermon delivered on Friday, in the militant-held northern Iraqi city of Mosul.
"I am the wali [leader] who presides over you, though I am not the best of you, so if you see that I am right, assist me," he said, wearing a black turban and robe.
"If you see that I am wrong, advise me and put me on the right track, and obey me as long as I obey God in you."
The video was released on a website known to be used by the group, but it was not possible to independently verify whether the person shown was indeed Baghdadi. There were previously only two known photographs of him.
Aymenn al-Tamimi, an expert on Islamist movements, said that the video was the first official appearance by Baghdadi, although the jihadist leader may have appeared in a 2008 video under a different name.
"God gave your mujahideen brothers victory after long years of jihad and patience … so they declared the caliphate and placed the caliph in charge. This is a duty on Muslims that has been lost for centuries."
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