Islamic militants have released a new propaganda video appearing to feature British hostage John Cantlie.
The clip - the second showing the journalist to be circulated by Islamic State (IS) militants in less than a week - emerged in the early hours of this morning, according to reports.
SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors Jihadist groups, described the latest footage as the “first episode” in a series involving Mr Cantlie speaking about the group.
The clip, which lasts for almost six minutes, follows a similar pattern to the first video featuring the photojournalist, showing him sitting at a desk dressed in the now-familiar orange outfit worn by other Islamic State hostages.
Mr Cantlie looks calm and appears to be reciting a prepared script. It does not show any of his captors and features no threats to kill.
"The president once called George Bush's Iraq conflict a 'dumb war,' and couldn't wait to distance America from it when he came into power. Now he's being inextricably drawn back in," he says.
He describes Islamic State as the "most powerful jihadist movement seen in recent history", adding it could not be greatly harmed by US politicians calling it "awful" or "vile". The video appeared to have been recorded before strikes overnight launched by US warplanes and partners on Islamic State targets in Syria.
The clip is introduced with the title ‘Lend Me Your Ears and Messages From The British Detainee John Cantlie’ before the Briton appears on screen.
Last week a video surfaced showing Mr Cantlie in a similar setting saying he would speak about Islamic State in future videos.
Both videos appear to be well-produced, with good quality sound and lighting.
Links of the video posted on YouTube appeared to have been removed.
Mr Cantlie has worked for newspapers including the Sunday Times.
Separately, France’s prime minister has insisted his country would not stop fighting IS militants despite demands by kidnappers holding a French hostage. The 55-year-old man was abducted in Algeria on Monday by a splinter group from al-Qaeda’s North African branch.Jund al-Khilafah said it would kill the man, identified as mountain guide Herve Gourdel, unless France halted its air strikes in Iraq within 24 hours.
PA