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| Isis rebels declare 'Islamic state' in Iraq and Syria | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Islamist militant group Isis has said it is establishing a caliphate, or Islamic state, on the territories it controls in Iraq and Syria. | Islamist militant group Isis has said it is establishing a caliphate, or Islamic state, on the territories it controls in Iraq and Syria. |
| It also proclaimed the group's leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, as caliph and "leader for Muslims everywhere". | It also proclaimed the group's leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, as caliph and "leader for Muslims everywhere". |
| Setting up a caliphate ruled by the strict Islamic law has long been a goal of many jihadists. | Setting up a caliphate ruled by the strict Islamic law has long been a goal of many jihadists. |
| Meanwhile, Iraq's army continued an offensive to retake the northern city of Tikrit from the Isis-led rebels. | Meanwhile, Iraq's army continued an offensive to retake the northern city of Tikrit from the Isis-led rebels. |
| The city was seized by the insurgents on 11 June as they swept across large parts of northern-western Iraq. | The city was seized by the insurgents on 11 June as they swept across large parts of northern-western Iraq. |
| In a separate development, Israel called for the creation of an independent Kurdish state in response to the gain made by the Sunni rebels in Iraq. | In a separate development, Israel called for the creation of an independent Kurdish state in response to the gain made by the Sunni rebels in Iraq. |
| Allegiance demand | Allegiance demand |
| Isis (the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) announced the establishment of the caliphate in an audio recording posted on the internet. | Isis (the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) announced the establishment of the caliphate in an audio recording posted on the internet. |
| It said the Islamic state would extend from Aleppo in northern Syria to Diyala province in eastern Iraq. | It said the Islamic state would extend from Aleppo in northern Syria to Diyala province in eastern Iraq. |
| Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the group said, would become the leader of the state and would be known as "Caliph Ibrahim". | Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the group said, would become the leader of the state and would be known as "Caliph Ibrahim". |
| In the recording, the rebels also demanded that all Muslims "pledge allegiance" to the new ruler and "reject democracy and other garbage from the West". | In the recording, the rebels also demanded that all Muslims "pledge allegiance" to the new ruler and "reject democracy and other garbage from the West". |
| Isis also said that from now on it would be known simply as "the Islamic State". | Isis also said that from now on it would be known simply as "the Islamic State". |
| Russian jets | Russian jets |
| On Sunday, Iraqi government jets struck at rebel positions and clashes broke out in various parts of Tikrit, witnesses and officials said. | On Sunday, Iraqi government jets struck at rebel positions and clashes broke out in various parts of Tikrit, witnesses and officials said. |
| "The security forces are advancing from different areas", Lt-Gen Qassem Atta told journalists. "There are ongoing clashes." | "The security forces are advancing from different areas", Lt-Gen Qassem Atta told journalists. "There are ongoing clashes." |
| Troops had reportedly pulled back to the nearby town of Dijla as Saturday's initial offensive met stiff resistance. | Troops had reportedly pulled back to the nearby town of Dijla as Saturday's initial offensive met stiff resistance. |
| The heavy fighting over the two days caused many casualties on both sides, eyewitnesses and journalists told the BBC. | The heavy fighting over the two days caused many casualties on both sides, eyewitnesses and journalists told the BBC. |
| Fear inside Tikrit | Fear inside Tikrit |
| "We cannot live here another day. The entire night we have only heard bombs bursting all around the hospital" - Marina Jose, one of 46 stranded Indian nurses at a Tikrit teaching hospital, tells BBC | "We cannot live here another day. The entire night we have only heard bombs bursting all around the hospital" - Marina Jose, one of 46 stranded Indian nurses at a Tikrit teaching hospital, tells BBC |
| 'No-one wants to stay here' | 'No-one wants to stay here' |
| Insurgents were reported to have shot down a helicopter and captured the pilot. | Insurgents were reported to have shot down a helicopter and captured the pilot. |
| The witnesses said the Iraqi forces had been hampered in their bid to retake Tikrit by the large number of improvised explosive devices laid on the approaches to the city. | The witnesses said the Iraqi forces had been hampered in their bid to retake Tikrit by the large number of improvised explosive devices laid on the approaches to the city. |
| Iraq said on Sunday it had received the first batch of military jets ordered from Russia in order to help fight the militants. | Iraq said on Sunday it had received the first batch of military jets ordered from Russia in order to help fight the militants. |
| Kurdistan state | Kurdistan state |
| Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for the creation of an independent Kurdish state in response to gains made by Sunni insurgents in Iraq. | Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for the creation of an independent Kurdish state in response to gains made by Sunni insurgents in Iraq. |
| In a speech in Tel Aviv, he said the Kurds "are a nation of fighters and have proved political commitment and are worthy of independence." | In a speech in Tel Aviv, he said the Kurds "are a nation of fighters and have proved political commitment and are worthy of independence." |
| Earlier this week, Iraqi Kurd leader Massoud Barzani told CNN that "the time is here for the Kurdistan people to determine their future". | Earlier this week, Iraqi Kurd leader Massoud Barzani told CNN that "the time is here for the Kurdistan people to determine their future". |
| Correspondents say the Kurds have long held aspirations for an independent state but they remain divided between Syria and Turkey, Iran and Iraq. | Correspondents say the Kurds have long held aspirations for an independent state but they remain divided between Syria and Turkey, Iran and Iraq. |
| The international community, including neighbouring Turkey and the US, remain opposed to the breakup of Iraq. | The international community, including neighbouring Turkey and the US, remain opposed to the breakup of Iraq. |
| Are you in the area? What is your reaction to the current situation? Email your views to haveyoursay@bbc.o.uk with the word 'Iraq' in the subject heading. |