IRAQI Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki warned today that the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isis) declaration of a caliphate in territory seized in Iraq and Syria poses a threat to the entire region.

He added that “no-one in Iraq or any neighbouring country will be safe from these plans.”

Isis leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi demanded that all Muslims pledge allegiance to him and help to build the theocratic state.

Mr Maliki said that the announcement “is a message to all the states in the region that you are inside the red circle now.”

The Iraqi Prime Minister, who has come under great pressure to stand down in favour of a more unifying candidate, tried to tempt members of the Sunni community to break with Isis by offering an amnesty “for all tribes and people who got involved in any act against the state.

“They should return to their senses. We are not excluding anybody, even those who committed misdeeds, apart from those who killed or shed blood.

“I welcome them to return and stand with the other tribes that have taken up arms.”

Isis, which has renamed itself simply the Islamic State controls a swathe of land from northern Syria to the outskirts of Baghdad in central Iraq, sending tremors across the region.

It has followed up its successful battles for supremacy with other jihadi groups in Syria — most recently in wrenching the al-Bukamal border town from Jabhat al-Nusra forces — by asserting its sole leadership role in Iraq.

Anti-Maliki forces, made up of a variety of Sunni groups, report having been given an ultimatum by Isis after two days of talks in Mosul.

All non-Isis forces have been told that they must swear an oath of allegiance to the new Islamic State caliphate and must hand over all weapons.

“We will not take the oath of allegiance, and we will not hand over our weapons. We will hide them,” said one senior Sunni rebel source.

“But we can’t fight Isis. It is too strong and it would be a losing battle. We give in, but we will remain active in Baghdad, where Isis doesn’t have a presence.”