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Isis chief appears in first video | Isis chief appears in first video |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of Islamist militant group Isis, has called on Muslims to obey him, in his first video sermon. | Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of Islamist militant group Isis, has called on Muslims to obey him, in his first video sermon. |
Baghdadi has been appointed caliph by the jihadist group, which has seized large swathes of Iraq and Syria. | Baghdadi has been appointed caliph by the jihadist group, which has seized large swathes of Iraq and Syria. |
The video appears to have been filmed on Friday during a sermon at the al-Nouri Mosque in Mosul, northern Iraq. | The video appears to have been filmed on Friday during a sermon at the al-Nouri Mosque in Mosul, northern Iraq. |
It surfaced on Saturday amid reports that he had been killed or wounded in an Iraqi air raid. | It surfaced on Saturday amid reports that he had been killed or wounded in an Iraqi air raid. |
It was not clear when the attack was supposed to have taken place. | It was not clear when the attack was supposed to have taken place. |
In the sermon, at Mosul's most famous landmark, Baghdadi praised the establishment of the "Islamic state", which was declared by Isis last Sunday. | In the sermon, at Mosul's most famous landmark, Baghdadi praised the establishment of the "Islamic state", which was declared by Isis last Sunday. |
Experts say the reclusive militant leader has never appeared on video before, although there are photographs of him. | Experts say the reclusive militant leader has never appeared on video before, although there are photographs of him. |
"Appointing a leader is an obligation on Muslims, and one that has been neglected for decades," he said. | "Appointing a leader is an obligation on Muslims, and one that has been neglected for decades," he said. |
He also said that he did not seek out the position of being the caliph, or leader, calling it a "burden". | He also said that he did not seek out the position of being the caliph, or leader, calling it a "burden". |
"I am your leader, though I am not the best of you, so if you see that I am right, support me, and if you see that I am wrong, advise me," he told worshippers. | "I am your leader, though I am not the best of you, so if you see that I am right, support me, and if you see that I am wrong, advise me," he told worshippers. |
Captions in the video referred to Baghdadi as "Caliph Ibrahim", a name he has used since the group unilaterally declared him leader of an "Islamic state" last Sunday. | |
What is a caliphate? | |
Shrines destroyed | |
Earlier on Saturday Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki fired two of his top security chiefs following the collapse of the Iraqi army in the north of the country last month. | |
The chief of the Iraqi army's ground forces as well as the head of the federal police both lost their jobs. | |
Meanwhile, extremists led by Isis destroyed at least a dozen shrines and places of worship in Nineveh province in northern Iraq. | |
Shia, Sunni and Christian targets were destroyed, with images of their demolition being shared on social media. | |
More than a million people have fled their homes as a result of the recent conflict, and at least 2,461 people were killed in June, the UN and Iraqi officials say. |