Iraqi rebel leader calls for ‘holy war’

The leader of the so-called Islamic State has called on Muslims worldwide to take up arms and flock to the “caliphate” it had declared on captured Syrian and Iraqi soil.

Proclaiming a “new era” in which Muslims will ultimately triumph, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi issued the call to jihad - holy war - in an audio message lasting nearly 20 minutes that was posted online on Tuesday.

Baghdadi, who has assumed the mediaeval title of caliph, used the message to seek to assert authority over Muslims everywhere. He called on them to rise up and avenge the alleged wrongs committed against their religion, from Central African Republic to Myanmar (Burma).

“By Allah, we will take revenge, by Allah we will take revenge, even if after a while,” he said.

“They have a statement that will cause the world to hear and understand the meaning of terrorism, and boots that will trample the idol of nationalism, destroy the idol of democracy and uncover its deviant nature.”

Wednesday’s statement comes as Iraq’s parliament adjourned for a week, an hour into its first session, after it failed to reach an agreement on senior appointments.