Captors threaten to start killing Japanese 実行犯が人質の殺害開始を示唆(アルジャジーラ)
The kidnappers of three Japanese civilians have threatened to kill one of them within 24 hours if Tokyo does not withdraw its troops out of Iraq, a self-described Iraqi mediator has told Aljazeera satellite channel.
Citing a statement by "the Iraqi resistance," Mazhar al-Dalaimi, said on Sunday the kidnappers are "giving the Japanese government a 24-hour ultimatum, not open to extension, after which they will execute a first hostage.
Al-Dalaimi, who heads the League for the Defense of Iraqis' Rights, said "the death sentence will be applied to the others 12 hours later" unless Tokyo meets a number of conditions, chiefly to pull its troops out of Iraq.