BBC
http://news.bbc.co.uk/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3963907.stm

Friday, 29 October, 2004, 19:07 GMT 20:07 UK

Japanese hostage 'killed in Iraq'


Militants demanded Japan withdraw its troops

Officials in Tokyo are investigating reports that a Japanese backpacker held hostage in Iraq has been killed by his insurgent captors.
Japan's Kyodo news agency said a body found between Baghdad and the city of Tikrit was Shosei Koda, 24.

State television in Japan said the body had been discovered by US troops.

Islamic militants led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi had threatened to behead Mr Koda if Tokyo did not meet a Friday deadline to pull troops out of Iraq.

The Japanese government had already held an emergency session on Friday following reports that the body of a Japanese hostage may have been found in Iraq.

Kyodo reported that a unidentified member of Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's party had confirmed Mr Koda's death.

A foreign ministry spokesman in Tokyo refused to comment on the reports.

Deadline unclear

It was not clear when Mr Koda's captors' deadline expired, but it was thought to be early on Friday, Japanese time.

In a video released onto the internet earlier this week, militants claiming loyalty to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi threatened to behead Mr Koda within 48 hours if their demands were not met.

Earlier this year Japan managed to free five other citizens taken hostage in Iraq after days of mediation.

Mr Koda left on a year-long trip in January, starting in New Zealand.

He told people he met on the way that he wanted to go to Iraq to see the country.

Mr Koda's family appealed for his release

Officials said he took a bus to Baghdad from Amman in Jordan last week.

On Friday his family issued an appeal for his release.

His brother Maki said: "My brother is just a civilian. He is a young man who saw that the people of Iraq were suffering and left on his journey with the wish to help them.

"So, please let him return to Japan safely. Once he returns, he will become a man who will work for Iraq and world peace. So please, let him return alive."

Japan has about 550 non-combat troops in Iraq. They are mainly engaged in humanitarian and reconstruction work.

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