Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said his country is in a "race against time" to free two hostages being held by the Islamic State group for a $200 million ransom.
Abe told reporters Wednesday in Tokyo that he has instructed officials to use every possible diplomatic channel to secure the release of Kenji Goto and Haruna Yukawa.
Islamic State militants released a video Tuesday saying they would kill the men unless Japan paid the money within 72 hours, linking the threat to what they said was Japan's support for efforts to fight the group.
The prime minister said Wednesday that Japan "will never give in to terrorism." He has pledged $200 million in non-military aid to those countries affected by the Sunni extremists.
Japan is not among the countries directly participating in the coalition battling insurgents in Syria and Iraq.
However, Japanese citizens have previously been killed by Islamic militants - the most notable attack was at an Algerian gas plant in 2013 where ten Japanese died.
Abe told reporters Wednesday in Tokyo that he has instructed officials to use every possible diplomatic channel to secure the release of Kenji Goto and Haruna Yukawa.
Islamic State militants released a video Tuesday saying they would kill the men unless Japan paid the money within 72 hours, linking the threat to what they said was Japan's support for efforts to fight the group.
The prime minister said Wednesday that Japan "will never give in to terrorism." He has pledged $200 million in non-military aid to those countries affected by the Sunni extremists.
Japan is not among the countries directly participating in the coalition battling insurgents in Syria and Iraq.
However, Japanese citizens have previously been killed by Islamic militants - the most notable attack was at an Algerian gas plant in 2013 where ten Japanese died.
[VOA News]
21/1/15
--
-
Related:
GR
FR
DE
ES
IT
RU
EU
Tokyo in ‘race against time’ to free Islamic State hostages, Abe says...
ReplyDeletePrime Minister Shinzo Abe admitted Wednesday it was a “race against time” to free two hostages being held by jihadi militants who are demanding $200 million for their lives.
A defiant Abe said he would not bow to “terrorism” as he took charge of the crisis that Japan was thrust into with the release of a chilling video apparently showing two Japanese men kneeling in the desert of Syria or Iraq.
“This is a very tough race against time, but the government will do its utmost,” he told reporters. “I have ordered the government to use all diplomatic channels and routes possible . . . to ensure the release of the two people.”.........AFP.....http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/01/21/national/politics-diplomacy/tokyo-race-time-free-islamic-state-hostages-abe-says/#.VL_LviwYE9Q
21/1/15
Japan preparing for deadline set by Islamic State for hostages...
ReplyDeleteJapan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has urgently convened the National Security Council as the deadline to pay ransom for two Japanese hostages held by the Islamic State group is due to expire at 5:50 GMT on Friday, the country’s government officials said.
The militants threatened in a video message released on Tuesday to murder the hostages, Kenji Goto and Haruna Yukawa, unless they get the $200 million ransom within 72 hours.............http://itar-tass.com/en/world/772899
23/1/15
Le groupe terroriste Etat islamique a fait une nouvelle déclaration ayant menacé de tuer les otages japonais. Le délai de l'ultimatum a expiré le 23 janvier. A l'heure actuelle le sort des otages est inconnu...
ReplyDeleteLe ministre d'Etat aux Affaires étrangères du Japon Yasuhide Nakayama se trouve actuellement à Amman en Jordanie et tente de négocier leur libération.
Un jour avant l'expiration de l'ultimatum le premier ministre Shinzo Abe a déclaré que le Japon ne payerait pas une rançon de 200 millions de dollars en échange de la libération des otages.
Lire la suite: http://french.ruvr.ru/news/2015_01_23/LEI-fait-une-nouvelle-declaration-sur-les-otages-japonais-3976/
23/1/15