Islamic State threatens to 'liberate Istanbul'

(AGI) Ankara, Aug 9 - The Islamic State (IS) has threatened to'liberate Istanbul' while accusing Turkey of cutting off theflow of the Euphrates river, drying up northern Syria. "I prayto God that the apostate (Turkish) government reconsiders itsdecision because if they don't reconsider it now, we'llreconsider it for them by liberating Istanbul," IS spokesmanAbu Mosa told Vice News in Rakka, northern Syria. When reporterMedyan Dairieh asked if this was a threat, Abu Mosa answered:"Yes, it is a clear threat. If they don't open (the Ataturk damon the Euphrates in Turkey) we'll unblock it from Istanbul." InMay, the Syrian government accused jihadist groups of cuttingoff water supplies to Aleppo, shortly after which the Lebanesenewspaper Al Akhbar accused Turkey of diverting the Euphrates,a charge that Ankara has always denied. .