Al Qaeda Says It Has No Links With ISIS

The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant has been fighting rebels in Syria

Al-Qaeda has insisted it has no links with the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS), which has been locked in deadly clashes with rebels in Syria.

An online statement purportedly from the group's general command said ISIS was "not a branch of al-Qaeda".

Last May, Ayman al-Zawahiri rejected an attempt by the Iraq-based group to merge with the al-Nusra Front in Syria.

Since then, ISIS has been condemned for attacking fellow rebels and abusing civilian supporters of the opposition.