Islamic State: 'Baghdadi message' issued by jihadists

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has rarely appeared in public

Islamic State has released an audiotape it says was recorded by its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, days after reports that he had been killed or injured.

In the recording, released via social media, the speaker says IS fighters will never cease fighting "even if only one soldier remains".
Correspondents say the recording appears authentic and recent.
Reports that Baghdadi had been badly injured followed US-led air strikes near the Iraqi city of Mosul last week.
The 17-minute recording makes no direct reference to the air strike, but mentions some developments that have occurred since.
The speaker, said to be Baghdadi, calls on supporters of Islamic State to "erupt volcanoes of jihad" across the world.
He also calls for attacks in Saudi Arabia - describing Saudi leaders as "the head of the snake" - and says that the US-led military campaign in Syria and Iraq is failing.
In the recording, he mentions US President Barack's Obama decision to deploy an extra 1,500 troops to Iraq - a move that was announced after the air strike on Mosul.
There are also new pledges of allegiance from jihadist groups in Libya, Egypt and Yemen that also occurred in recent days.
"O soldiers of the Islamic State... erupt volcanoes of jihad everywhere. Light the earth with fire against all dictators," Baghdadi says.
Islamic State has seized swathes of Syria and Iraq since June, declaring a caliphate over territory it controls.

Source: BBC