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8 Koreans, 3 Japanese Kidnapped in Iraq
Three Japanese and eight South Koreans were kidnapped in Iraq on Thursday, according to media reports. The Arabic TV station al-Jazeera aired video of the Japanese blindfolded.
The South Koreans were detained by unidentified "armed men" in Iraq but one was later released, the South Korean Yonhap news agency reported, citing an unnamed Foreign Ministry official in Seoul. The report gave no further details. The Foreign Ministry told The Associated Press it did not know who was responsible for the capture of the South Koreans. In Tokyo, lawmakers said the Japanese were kidnapped by a terrorist-related group, according to the Japanese news agency Kyodo. A videotape aired by Al-Jazeera and shown by Japan's NHK television showed three Japanese identified as two journalists and an aid worker. The Japanese were blindfolded and surrounded by gunmen. The video showed the hostages' passports, confirming their nationality. The Al-Jazeera report said the kidnappers had threatened to kill their captives, two men and a woman, unless Japan withdraws from southern Iraq.
Japan has sent several hundred ground troops to Iraq on a noncombat mission to help rebuild the country. Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has been one of the strongest backers of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, a stance that has raised concern Japanese troops could be targeted by insurgents in that country. The Japanese were taken by a group identifying itself as the "Mujahedeen Squadrons," which Al-Jazeera said gave a three-day ultimatum for Japan to announce it will withdraw its troops or they would be killed. "Three of your sons have fallen into our hands," the Al-Jazeera announcer said, quoting a statement he said came with the video tape. "We offer you two choices: either pull out your forces, or we will burn them alive. We give you three days starting the day this tape is broadcast." Posted by: Steve 2004-04-08 |
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