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Militants Release 3rd Video of UK Hostage

Militants Release 3rd Video of UK Hostage
Militants Release 3rd Video of UK Hostage

 

A third video has appeared featuring British hostage John Cantlie who is being held by IS militants.

The journalist delivers a scripted message responding to US President Barack Obama’s recent speech on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

The script mocks the US’s strategy of employing air power combined with local ground forces, the BBC reported.

Cantlie appears sat at a desk against a black backdrop, following the same format as in previous videos.

The message ends with a comment by him that the IS says it welcomes meeting with what is described as President Obama’s under-construction army.

There are no signs of violence in the video but in the first of these messages Cantlie made clear he was speaking as a prisoner whose life was in danger.

At the end of the five-and-a-half minute film he indicates there will be further messages.

The video comments on Obama’s speech: “It was all disappointingly predictable; America is good, the Islamic State (IS) is bad; and they will be defeated using aircraft and a motley collection of fighters on the ground. For their part the Islamic State say they welcome meeting Obama’s under-construction army.”

The experienced journalist and photographer has twice been held captive in Syria.

He was kidnapped in July 2012, and handcuffed and blindfolded for a week, but escaped with the help from the Free Syrian Army.

A second kidnap happened when he returned to Syria towards the end of 2012.

Since August, IS has filmed and posted online the deaths of three Western hostages who were beheaded.

They were US journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff and British aid worker David Haines.

Meanwhile, two British Tornado jets have returned to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus after carrying out a fifth combat sortie over Iraq.

UK Parliament has voted by 524 votes to 43 to take action against IS in Iraq.

 

Financialtribune.com