A US plan to build a moderate fighting force to take on the Islamic State (IS) group in Syria has been criticised by a senior rebel trained in the programme.

Capt Ammar al Wawi said the US and its allies failed to protect his fighters - known as Division 30 - when they came under attack in Syria last week.

At least five fighters were killed and more than 10 abducted in clashes with al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra Front.

Capt Wawi said only 60 fighters had been trained so far under the plan.

This was despite a pledge by the US last summer to train up to 5,000 fighters a year to form a moderate Sunni opposition to help take on IS militants.

"The project is very slow," Capt Wawi told the BBC's Ian Pannell. "They are ready to train and form a national army of 15,000 fighters and we hear they are ready to back it with money, weapons and provide air cover.

"But in reality, in six months only 60 fighters were trained. If it takes this long to train 60, it will take decades to get everyone ready."

Division 30 and members of the Free Syrian Army came under attack from al-Nusra in northern Syria last Friday.

Al-Nusra, which is not affiliated to IS but has itself come under attack from the US in the past, said in a statement that it had captured some fighters and warned others against taking part in what it called "the American project".

The US said it provided "defensive support fire" at the time of Friday's attack, but at least five fighters were killed and more than 10 were abducted.

"In reality, we have got no international guarantees to protect our fighters or to protect the 30th Division," Capt Wawi said.

The Syrian conflict began with an uprising against the government in Damascus, but that has since splintered, pitting rebel groups fighting President Bashar al-Assad's forces against one another.

BBC