(Friday 09 April 2004, 1:55 Makka Time, 22:55 GMT)
Three Japanese citizens have been captured by a previously unknown Iraqi group but seven South Koreans have been freed amid a spate of recent hostage-takings.
Two Japanese journalists and an aid worker remain captured
Aljazeera television on Thursday aired a silent video of the three Japanese – two men and a woman – and read out a statement addressed to “the friendly people of Japan” from an Iraqi group called Saraya al-Mujahidin.
The statement gave Tokyo three days to withdraw its forces from Iraq or have its citizens executed.
“We are the sons of Muslim Iraqi people. We were friends and on good terms. Why did you betray us and support the US forces which have violated our soil, our sacred places and land and shed the blood of our children?” demanded the statement.
“It is time to retaliate. Three of your nationals are now in our custody and you have either to withdraw, or we will burn them alive.”
Noriaki Imai is an aid worker who arrived in Iraq one week ago
A Japanese government spokesman said Tokyo had no plans to withdraw its troops and demanded the immediate release of its citizens.
Japan’s NHK television identified them as two journalists and an aid worker. One of the hostages being held by Saraya al-Mujahidin is a woman.
The captives were named as as Noriaki Imai, Soichiro Koriyama and Nahoko Takato. Imai, an aid worker, had left for Iraq on 1 April, NHK reported.
Controversial mission
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has been one of the strongest backers of the US-led invasion of Iraq, a stance that has raised concern over Japanese troops being targeted.
Japan has sent 550 troops to the southern town of Samawa on a non-combat mission. It is Tokyo’s riskiest military deployment since the second world war and critics say it violates the country’s pacifist constitution.
No Japanese soldier has fired a shot in action or been killed in combat since 1945 and casualties could undermine support for PM Koizumi’s government ahead of Upper House elections in July. (From the Aljageera, 08 April.2004)