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Islamic State releases hostage video of British journalist

Islamic State releases propaganda video with British journalist John Cantlie.

By Danielle Haynes

MOSUL, Iraq, Sept. 18 (UPI) -- The Islamic State on Thursday released a video of British journalist John Cantlie, who's been a hostage for nearly two years, delivering a message on behalf of the terror group.

In the video, Cantlie can be seen wearing an orange shirt and sitting alone behind a desk as he delivers a message for IS, also known as ISIS and ISIL.

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Reading from a script, Cantlie tells how he was taken captive in November 2012 while working in Syria.

"Now nearly two years later, many things have changed," he said, adding that IS has expanded in Iraq and Syria into, "a land mass bigger than Britain and many other nations."

"Now, I know what you're thinking," Cantlie said. "You're thinking: 'He's only doing this because he's a prisoner. He's got a gun at his head and he's being forced to do this.' Right? Well, it's true. I am a prisoner, that I cannot deny."

"But seeing as I've been abandoned by my government and my fate now lies in the hands of the Islamic State, I have nothing to lose," he said. "Maybe I will live and maybe I will die, but I want to take this opportunity to convey some facts that you can verify. Facts that if you contemplate, might help preserving lives."

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As part of the 3-minute, 21-second propaganda video, Cantlie delivered the IS message that the United States and its allies are foolish for entering into war with the terror group.

Cantlie is the fourth U.S. or British citizen to appear in a video released by IS in the last month. U.S. journalists Foley and Sotloff, and British aid worker David Haines were all executed on video by the terror group.

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