Islamist fighters vow to capture Baghdad

Capital on alert

The militants attacked an Iraqi security checkpoint in the town of Tarmiyah, 50 kilometers north of Baghdad, killing five troops and wounding nine, said officials. However, Baghdad does not appear to be in imminent danger from a large-scale assault, although Sunni insurgents have stepped up car bombings and suicide attacks in the capital in recent months.

So far, ISIL fighters have stuck to the Sunni heartland and former Sunni insurgent strongholds where people are already alienated by the Shiite-led government over allegations of discrimination and mistreatment. The militants also would likely meet far stronger resistance, not only from government forces but by Shiite militias if they tried to advance on the capital.

Hundreds of young men crowded in front of the main army recruiting center in Baghdad on Thursday after the authorities urged Iraqis to help battle the insurgents.

A spokesman for ISIL said the group has old scores to settle with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's government in Baghdad. The Iraqi leader, a Shiite, is trying to hold onto power after indecisive elections in April.

Al-Maliki has asked parliament to declare a state of emergency that would give him the "necessary powers" to run the country - something legal experts said could include powers to impose curfews, restrict public movements and censor the media.

However, Iraq's parliament was unable to vote on the issue on Thursday after it failed to reach a quorum, with only 128 of 325 MPs attending the planned emergency session, a government official said.

'Foreign funding' claims

On Thursday, Syrian state media accused Saudi Arabia and the West of complicity with ISIL as it captures territory in Syria and Iraq. Echoing claims often made by the government and its supporters, state media said Saudi and other allies of the Syrian opposition were funding and arming jihadist groups like ISIL.

"Terrorism is spreading in front of the eyes of the Western world ... and alongside it are the fingers of Saudi Arabia, providing money and arms," the Al-Thawra daily wrote.

"In the events in Iraq and the escalating terrorist campaign, no Western country is unaware of the role Saudi Arabia is playing in supporting terrorism and funding and arming different fronts and battles, both inside and outside Iraq and Syria."

The editorial also accused Qatar and Turkey of playing similar roles backing extremists "according to US demands or Israeli desires".

The White House said on Wednesday that the United States was "deeply concerned" about ISIL's continued aggression.

AFP-AP