ISIS rebels declare 'Islamic caliphate'

The Islamic State in Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS) group has sought to solidify its leadership of worldwide jihad today by declaring that its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, is the new caliph, or head of state.

The armed group fighting governments in Iraq and Syria, has announced the establishment of a "caliphate" straddling the two countries.

In an audio recording distributed on Sunday, the group declared its chief, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, as "the caliph" and "leader for Muslims everywhere". An official document was also released, in English and several other languages.

Baghdadi is believed to be the leader of ISIL, which announced that it is now called the "Islamic State".

According to the statement, the new caliphate stretches from Iraq's Diyala province to Syria's Aleppo.

"The Shura [council] of the Islamic State met and discussed this issue [of the caliphate] ... The Islamic State decided to establish an Islamic caliphate and to designate a caliph for the state of the Muslims," said spokesman Abu Mohammad al-Adnani.

"The words 'Iraq' and 'the Levant' have been removed from the name of the Islamic State in official papers and documents," Adnani said, describing the caliphate as "the dream in all the Muslims' hearts" and "the hope of all jihadists".

A document, translated into English, describes Baghdadi as "the sheikh, the fighter, the scholar who practices what he preaches, the worshipper, the leader, the warrior, the reviver, descendant from the family of the Prophet, the slave of God".

The announcement might cause problems with other Sunni fighters in Iraq, who are fighting the central government of Nouri al-Maliki and not for the caliphate, our correspondent said.

The group's announcement came as Iraq's army pressed its offensive to recapture the northern city of Tikrit.

Troops backed by helicopter gunships began an assault on the city on Saturday, while tanks and helicopters were sent to areas around Tikrit university on Sunday, security sources said.

he offensive is the first major attempt by the army to retake territory after the US sent up to 300 advisers, mostly special forces, and drones to help the government.

On Sunday the deputy prime minister for energy, Hussain al-Shahristani, one of Iraq's most senior politicians, criticised the US for not doing enough to bolster the country's military, just hours after Russia delivered five Sukhoi jets.

"Yes, there has been a delay from the Americans in handing over contracted arms. We told them, 'You once did an air bridge to send arms to your ally Israel, so why don't you give us the contracted arms in time?'" he told al-Hurra TV.

The US says it has done everything possible to ensure Iraq has modern weaponry.

The five Russian Sukhoi SU-25 ground attack jets were delivered to Baghdad on Saturday.