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John Cantlie: Islamic State hostage in 'Kobane' video | John Cantlie: Islamic State hostage in 'Kobane' video |
(35 minutes later) | |
British hostage John Cantlie has appeared in a new Islamic State (IS) video in which he says he is speaking from the key Syrian town of Kobane. | British hostage John Cantlie has appeared in a new Islamic State (IS) video in which he says he is speaking from the key Syrian town of Kobane. |
In an apparently scripted video, Mr Cantlie says the battle for the town on the Turkish border "is nearly over" and the militants are "mopping up now". | In an apparently scripted video, Mr Cantlie says the battle for the town on the Turkish border "is nearly over" and the militants are "mopping up now". |
He refers to events of the past two weeks, including a US air drop of weapons for Syrian Kurd fighters. | He refers to events of the past two weeks, including a US air drop of weapons for Syrian Kurd fighters. |
Kobane has witnessed intense fighting between Kurdish militias and IS. | Kobane has witnessed intense fighting between Kurdish militias and IS. |
It is the latest in a series of videos featuring the 43-year-old journalist, who was seized in late 2012. | It is the latest in a series of videos featuring the 43-year-old journalist, who was seized in late 2012. |
'Nasty and tough' | 'Nasty and tough' |
The clip, which lasts for five minutes and 32 seconds, also features footage that it is claimed was shot by an Islamic State drone. | The clip, which lasts for five minutes and 32 seconds, also features footage that it is claimed was shot by an Islamic State drone. |
In it, Mr Cantlie says: "Now the battle for Kobane is coming to an end. The mujahideen are just mopping up now, street to street, and building to building. | |
"You can occasionally hear erratic gunfire in the background as a result of those operations. | "You can occasionally hear erratic gunfire in the background as a result of those operations. |
"But contrary to what the Western media would have you believe, it is not an all-out battle here now. It is nearly over. As you can hear, it is very quiet, just the occasional gunfire." | "But contrary to what the Western media would have you believe, it is not an all-out battle here now. It is nearly over. As you can hear, it is very quiet, just the occasional gunfire." |
He adds: "Urban warfare is as about as nasty and tough as it gets, and it's something of a speciality of the mujahideen." | |
Kobane has been been under assault from IS for weeks. | |
Last Monday, militants launched an offensive "on all fronts" against Kurdish fighters, activists said. | Last Monday, militants launched an offensive "on all fronts" against Kurdish fighters, activists said. |
The release of the video comes after the death of Mr Cantlie's father Paul, 80, who had recorded a video message from his hospital bed urging IS to release his son. | The release of the video comes after the death of Mr Cantlie's father Paul, 80, who had recorded a video message from his hospital bed urging IS to release his son. |
Hostages | Hostages |
Jessica Cantlie, John Cantlie's sister, has also appealed for ''direct contact" with the militants. | Jessica Cantlie, John Cantlie's sister, has also appealed for ''direct contact" with the militants. |
Last week, another IS video emerged in which Mr Cantlie said prisoners of the militant group who had tried to escape had been punished with waterboarding. | |
He read another apparently scripted message that criticised the UK and US stance on hostage negotiations. | He read another apparently scripted message that criticised the UK and US stance on hostage negotiations. |
A Foreign Office spokesman said on Monday: "We are aware of a further video and we are analysing its contents." | |
The experienced journalist and photographer has been held captive in Syria twice. | The experienced journalist and photographer has been held captive in Syria twice. |
He was kidnapped first in July 2012, but escaped with help from the Free Syrian Army. | He was kidnapped first in July 2012, but escaped with help from the Free Syrian Army. |
He was then kidnapped for a second time when he returned to Syria towards the end of 2012. | He was then kidnapped for a second time when he returned to Syria towards the end of 2012. |
Islamic State - also known as Isis or Isil - has taken control of large areas of Syria and Iraq. | Islamic State - also known as Isis or Isil - has taken control of large areas of Syria and Iraq. |
Since August, IS has filmed and posted online the deaths of four Western hostages. | Since August, IS has filmed and posted online the deaths of four Western hostages. |
They were US journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, British aid worker David Haines and Alan Henning, a taxi driver from Salford, who was a volunteer on an aid mission to Syria. | They were US journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, British aid worker David Haines and Alan Henning, a taxi driver from Salford, who was a volunteer on an aid mission to Syria. |