'Islamic police' unit unveiled by IS militants in Libya

The Islamic State group Libya have unveiled a new Islamic police division with a professionally shot propaganda video.

A short video with an accompanying nasheed (Islamic chanting) in the background has been released by the group entitled 'Islamic police in the city of Sirte', the coastal city it controls in Libya. 

The video is a short introduction to the group's security force and professionally shot to give the impression of a well-equipped and organised police force. 

Militants mimic the roles and responsibilities of police officers in the region, and the name "Islamic police" rather than "hisbah" appears to be an attempt to give the force a greater sense of legitimacy and authority.

The propaganda video opens with various shots of a polished white Toyota pick-up truck with the words "Islamic police" written in Arabic script. 

Flashing lights are also fitted to the roof of the car, which passes through Sirte's well-kept but eerily quiet streets.

Masked police officers are seen dressed in grey-blue shalwa kameez uniforms - traditional clothing in South Asia - and carrying AK-47 rifles.

Militants at roadblocks wave through traffic with glow sticks.

At the end, an officer leaves a final message for the viewers: "I want you to be alert for the security of Muslims."

IS captured Sirte on the Mediterranean coast in February, and militants are rapidly advancing in the area towards Libya's oil fields.

The group's central command in Raqqa, Syria refer to Sirte as its "Libyan province".

Both the nationalist Tobruk and Islamist Tripoli parliaments which claim to rule Libya are at war with the extremist group.

Western powers have been desperate to get the two warring governments to sign a peace deal, so efforts can be concentrated on tackling IS' Libya branch.