IS threatens to kill Japanese hostages in new video. Japan PM Abe: threat to Japanese captives 'unacceptable'

An online video released Tuesday purported to show the Islamic State group threatening to kill two Japanese hostages unless they receive a $200 million ransom in the next 72 hours....

The video, identified as being made by the Islamic State group's al-Furqan media arm and posted on militant websites associated with the extremist group, mirrored other hostage threats made the group. The man

The video shows two hostages in orange jumpsuits that the militants identify as Kenji Goto Jogo and Haruna Yukawa. Japanese officials had no immediate comment on the video.

The British militant in the video said the Japanese were targeted for supporting Western military efforts against it.

"You have proudly donated $100 million to kill our women and children, to destroy the homes of the Muslims," the militant says.
speaking also resembled and sounded like a British militant involved in other beheadings by the Islamic State group, which now holds a third of Iraq and Syria under its self-declared caliphate.
 http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/IS-threatens-to-kill-Japanese-hostages-in-new-video/articleshow/45950714.cms
20/1/15
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• Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Tuesday that a threat to the lives of two purported Japanese captives by ISIS militants was unacceptable and that he strongly condemned acts of terrorism...

• L'EI menace de tuer deux otages japonais, réclame une rançon ..

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• Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday condemned as "unacceptable" the threat to the lives of two Japanese purportedly taken captive by Islamic State militants, and said the international community should not give in to terrorism.

Speaking at a news conference in Jerusalem during a tour of the Middle East, Abe added that Japan would do its utmost to secure the captives' safe release.

The Islamic State group, which holds territory in Iraq and Syria, issued a video online purporting to show two Japanese captives and demanding $200 million from the Japanese government to save their lives.
"The international community needs to respond firmly and cooperate without caving into terrorism," Abe said.
Asked whether Japan would pay ransom to secure the two captives' release, Abe replied: "With regard to this case, we attach the utmost priority to saving lives, and gathering information with the help of other countries. We'll make utmost efforts to save the lives (of the captives) from now on."
Abe on Saturday had pledged $200 million in non-military aid for countries contending with Islamic State.

• Abe told the Jerusalem news conference that Japan would go ahead with the aid, which he said was humanitarian in nature.

"Japan will make as much contribution as possible in non-military areas, including provision of support for refugees from Iraq and Syria," he said.
"The $200 million aid Japan has unveiled was humanitarian aid aimed at providing food and medical services in order to save those people in the region who have lost their homes and become refugees. I believe that this is the aid that is most needed by refugees," he added.
Abe, who took office two years ago pledging to boost Japan's role on the global stage, also repeated his promise that Japan would contribute to non-military areas of the Middle East and seek to play a role in bringing peace to the region.
 REUTERS
 http://www.todayonline.com/world/japan-pm-abe-threat-purported-japanese-captives-unacceptable
20/1/15