Al-Qaeda: We're returning to old Iraq strongholds

The first online statement from the new leader of al-Qaeda's affiliate in Iraq claims that the militant network is returning to the old strongholds from which it was driven by US forces and their Sunni allies prior to the American withdrawal at the end of last year, and that it is preparing operations to free prisoners and assassinate court officials.

The audio identifies the speaker as Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who became head of the Islamic State of Iraq in 2010. (AP)