Japanese taken hostage in Iraq

2004-04-08 14:30

Tokyo - Three Japanese have been taken hostage by insurgents in Iraq who have threatened to kill them if Japan does not withdraw its troops from Iraq, media reports said on Thursday.

The reports by NHK television and Kyodo News cited the Arab satellite television station al-Jazeera, which has screened video footage of the hostages.

Japan's foreign ministry has set up an emergency operations room and is trying to confirm the report from local sources, NHK reported.

A foreign ministry spokesperson said he had no information.

Japan has sent several hundred ground troops to Iraq on a non-combat mission to help rebuild the country.

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has been one of the strongest backers of the US-led invasion of Iraq, a stance that has raised concern Japanese troops could be targeted by insurgents in that country.

- AP