A second video has been released showing British journalist John Cantlie, who is being held hostage by Islamic State (IS) militants.

The BBC reports that the clip is the second showing the journalist to be circulated by the militants in less than a week.

Cantlie disappeared in Syria in 2012.

Dressed in orange, Cantlie says he has been abandoned by the UK.
He criticises the US-led attacks on Islamic State.

The IS, which now controls roughly a third of Syria and Iraq, has beheaded two US journalists and a British aid worker and has threatened to kill another British captive named Alan Henning.

No IS militants are seen in the video, which is titled "Lend Me Your Ears" and is addressed to the Western public.

"After two disastrous and hugely unpopular wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, why is it that our governments appear so keen to get involved in yet another unwinnable conflict?" he says.

The photojournalist also makes clear that he is under duress -- and that he does not know whether he will succeed in his attempt to avoid being murdered.

"Now I know what you are thinking, you are 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?" he says.

"Well it's true I am a prisoner. That I cannot deny. But seeing as I have been abandoned by my government and my fate now lies in the hands of Islamic State I have nothing to lose. 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."