The CIA, America’s intelligence agency, and Israel’s Mossad are behind the Islamist militant groups Boko Haram and ISIS, claims Sudanese President Omar al- Bashir.

He also warned against taking violent measures to fight militants, saying that doing so could lead to an even more severe extremist response.

Bashir made the statements during an interview on global terror as the U.S. Congress considered whether to use force against ISIS.

The Independent reports: Omar al-Bashir used an interview with Euronews to claim there was a connection between the American and Israeli intelligence organisations and both extremist groups.

He spoke after Isis released a video purporting to show the beheading of 21 Coptic Christians in Libya, an act that prompted Egypt to respond with air strikes avenging the massacre.

Al-Bashir told the broadcaster: “I said CIA and the Mossad stand behind these organisations; there is no Muslim who would carry out such acts.”