(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe convened an emergency Cabinet meeting on Wednesday after the captors of a Japanese freelance journalist posted another video warning the hostage could be killed within 24 hours.
Speaking at the Ministerial Council to discuss the hostage crisis, Abe said "This kind of despicable act causes me nothing but strong indignation. I express resolute condemnation," according to a press release from the Prime Minister's office.
"We are requesting cooperation from the Jordanian government to bring about the early release of Mr. Goto. This policy will remain unchanged going forward," the Premier said.
Abe also urged the relevant ministers to continue to cooperate in dedicating their utmost efforts to securing the release of Goto, staying constantly vigilant.
"I ask you to strengthen cooperation with relevant countries and take all possible measures to ensure the safety of Japanese nationals both domestically and abroad," Abe instructed the ministers.
A video message posted online on Tuesday night showed a still image of Japanese hostage Kenji Goto, 47, holding a photo of who appears to be 1st Lt. Muaz al-Kassasbeh, a Jordanian pilot being held by the Islamic State militant group since December.
A voiceover in the video, purportedly recorded by Goto, urged the Japanese government to pressure Jordan to release a female death-row inmate in exchange for Goto. The message also said the pilot, followed by Goto, will be killed within 24 hours unless Jordan frees Sajida al-Rishawi.
"I have only 24 hours left to live and the pilot has even less. This is my last message," the man said. Al-Rishawi, an Iraqi woman, was sentenced to death in Jordan for her part in triple hotel bombings in Amman in 2005 that killed nearly 60 people.
Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters that he instructed State Minister for Foreign Affairs Yasuhide Nakayama, the head of Japan's hostage crisis task force in Amman, to enhance efforts to seek cooperation from the Jordanian government in securing Goto's release. But Kishida declined to disclose further details.
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato separately told a news conference that Tuesday's video is likely authentic. Goto went missing in October in Syria, apparently while trying to rescue 42-year-old Haruka Yukawa, a private military company operator, who was abducted by the militants in August.
In the earlier video posted on January 24, the Islamic State said it had killed Yukawa, and demanded the release of al-Rishawi in exchange for Goto, while dropping a ransom of USD 200 million.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.