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Japan PM denounces kidnappersâ threat
Ananova - link may expire.Japanâs prime minister Junichiro Koizumi has denounced terrorist threats to burn alive three hostages as "cowardly". And he has vowed troops will stay in Iraq despite tearful pleas from the captivesâ families to bow to the gunmenâs demands. Tough as it is for the families, they arenât helping. Their kids went to Iraq of their own volition, and they were aware of the risks. Trying to weaken Japanâs resolve to stay in Iraq would have many other families finding themselves in the same position: losing loved ones. Koizumi needs to iterate this point clearly and deliberately. Never yield to terrorists. "We want to do everything we can to see that he comes home," said Naoko Imai, whose 18-year-old son, Noriaki, was among the captives. "I want the government to pull the troops out." But as the drama unfolded and tested Japanâs commitment to the US-led coalition, there was little Koizumi could do except remain defiant. "We cannot give in to the cowardly threats of terrorists," he said. "Right now what we need to do is gather accurate information and bring them home safely." Television networks repeatedly aired dramatic video footage of the two aid workers Imai and Nahoko Takato, 34, and photojournalist Soichiro Koriyama, 32. Koizumi called an emergency meeting of his Cabinet and created a task force to co-ordinate a response. He also ordered a senior foreign ministry official to co-ordinate rescue efforts from Jordan. The prime minister is expected to make a strong request for help from the United States when vice president Dick Cheney visits this weekend. Officials acknowledged, however, that they had few other options. Yasuo Fukuda, the Cabinetâs chief spokesman and head of the emergency task force, confirmed the government had "absolutely no contact" with the hostage-takers, a previously unknown group calling itself the "Mujahideen Squadrons". He stressed that accepting the withdrawal demand was not under consideration. Posted by: Bulldog 2004-04-09 |
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