Malala meets Nigeria's leader over abducted girls

Pakistani rights activist Malala Yousafzai has met Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan to press for more action to free over 200 girls held by Boko Haram Islamist militants, the BBC reported. 

The militants' leader has reiterated in a new video message that he is prepared to negotiate a prisoner swap for them.

He also expressed support for Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the self-declared caliph of a new Middle Eastern state.

Boko Haram sparked a global outcry when it abducted the girls three months ago.

Mr Jonathan's government has faced strong criticism for not doing enough to curb violence by Boko Haram, especially in the wake of the kidnappings.

Malala met Mr Jonathan in the capital, Abuja, and urged him to meet the families of the kidnapped girls.

BBC Nigeria correspondent Tomi Oladipo says it is highly unusual that the president has not spoken to the relatives, exactly three months after the abductions.

The military has also failed to debrief some of the girls who managed to escape from captivity, he says.

Malala met relatives of the girls on Sunday, and expressed solidarity with them.

"I can feel... the circumstances under which you are suffering," Malala said.

"It's quite difficult for a parent to know that their daughter is in great danger. My birthday wish this year is... bring back our girls now, and alive."

Two years ago, Malala was shot in the head by Pakistani Taliban militants for campaigning for girls' education.

She survived after being airlifted to the UK for treatment.