人質事件は日本の首相を試している Hostage crisis tests Japanese premier Friday 09 April 2004, 17:34 Makka Time, 14:34 GMT
Tearful families of the three pleaded with the government on Friday to rescue their loved ones.
But the premier told a news conference he was not considering withdrawing 550 troops from the southern Iraqi town of Samawa.
"We should not give in to these despicable threats from terrorists," said Koizumi.
Some 4000 protesters gathered in a Tokyo park on Friday, waving rainbow-coloured peace flags and holding placards reading, "Government: Don't murder the three people. Pull out the troops."
第一報 生きたまま焼く http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/08AE4283-9193-4564-9417-167B50B27BD7.htm Hostages put Tokyo in bind Friday 09 April 2004, 1:55 Makka Time, 22:55 GMT Two Japanese journalists and an aid worker remain captured 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.
二報 人質は首相を試している http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/3C84384D-57E3-4D3C-974C-09ECE73C0B3A.htm Hostage crisis tests Japanese premier Friday 09 April 2004, 17:34 Makka Time, 14:34 GMT The kidnappers have threatened to burn their captives alive Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has told an anguished Japan he has no plans to withdraw troops from Iraq despite threats by kidnappers to kill three Japanese civilians.
その他 拉致事件 http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/14E5B13F-7F23-4EFD-BFDF-4C4094E1E094.htm Armed Iraqis hold foreigners hostage Friday 09 April 2004, 23:45 Makka Time, 20:45 GMT Fadi Fadal loved working with children in Iraq Apart from three Japanese, a Palestinian and Canadian aid worker along with a Briton are also being held hostage in Iraq a day after seven South Korean pastors were captured and later released.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/898A6F03-11EB-471D-A4F8-E3B8A555F19B.htm Hostage crisis dominates Cheney’s Japan trip Saturday 10 April 2004, 14:29 Makka Time, 11:29 GMT Cheney is likely to urge Japan to stay on in Iraq US Vice President Dick Cheney has arrived in Tokyo for talks with Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi likely to be dominated by the kidnapping of three Japanese civilians in Iraq.
With the clock ticking as the deadline approaches before kid nappers threatened to burn alive Noriaki Imai, 18; Soichiro K oriyama, 32; Nahoko Tokato, 34, their families spoke to Aljaz eera television on Saturday.
第六報 解放 http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/75D2F232-7F1B-4909-9F9E-B8C41B0E93D0.htm Iraqi group to free Japanese hostages Sunday 11 April 2004, 0:18 Makka Time, 21:18 GMT The group has threatened to burn the hostages aliv An Iraqi group which said it kidnapped three Japanese hostages has said it will release them within 24 hours, abandoning a threat to kill them.
Our one request is to break the siege of the city of the mosques (Falluja) during the 12 hours from six o'clock on Saturday evening," said the group in the tape.
"If not, he will be dealt with worse that those who were killed and burned in Falluja," the voice added in the tape.