Japan scrambles after report Asian body found in Iraq
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-10-29 14:12

Japan scrambled on Friday to check a report that an Asian body had been found in Iraq after a deadline expired for the beheading of a Japanese youth whose captors had demanded that Tokyo withdraw its troops.

Al Qaeda ally Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's militant group said in an Internet video early on Wednesday Japanese time that it would behead 24-year-old Shosei Koda within 48 hours if the government did not meet its demand. Japan has said its troops will stay put.

Setsuko Koda, mother of Shosei Koda who is being held hostage in Iraq, cries during a news conference in Tokyo October 29, 2004. The family of 24-year-old Shosei begged for his life on Friday after the expiry of a dealine set by his captors who have threatened to behead him unless Japan withdrew its troops. [Reuters]

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi told journalists the report about a body being found had not been confirmed.

"We are aware of the report and are looking into it," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hatsuhisa Takashima told Reuters.

It was not clear exactly when the deadline expired, but media quoted Japanese officials as saying they believed it passed at 2 a.m. Tokyo time on Friday (1700 GMT on Thursday).

A Chinese news agency quoted a Russian Web portal as saying the body of a foreigner with Asian characteristics, possibly a Japanese hostage, had been found in the Iraqi city of Tikrit, the home town of toppled Iraqi president Saddam Hussein.

The hostage crisis poses a challenge to Koizumi, a close ally of U.S. President George W. Bush, who sent troops to Iraq despite strong public opposition.

But with many Japanese blaming Koda for putting himself at risk, political fallout might be limited, analysts said.

Exhausted members of Koda's family begged for the life of a youth who they said had no ties to Japan's military, no political agenda and was not in search of personal gain.

"He is just a warm-hearted person who wanted to see what he could do for peace and help the people of Iraq," Koda's brother Maki told a news conference.

"So I beg of you, please return my brother safely."

Cabinet ministers who met earlier had said there was little new information about Koda. Officials also said they had not identified the hostage-takers or made contact with them.

Japan has about 550 non-combat troops in Samawa, 270 km (168 miles) south of Baghdad, for humanitarian and reconstruction work.

Japan has sought help from about 25 countries, including the United States, Britain and Iraq, and other nations in the Middle East, and has sent a special envoy to Jordan.

Many ordinary Japanese have criticised Koda for travelling without cause to a country where more than 150 foreigners have been kidnapped this year and about one-third of them killed.

Koda, who had apparently taken a bus to Baghdad from Amman in Jordan last week, had little cash and no hotel booking, media said.

"I think he's irresponsible," said 34-year-old Naota Adachi, who works for a life insurer. "I heard he was trying to stay at some Iraqi person's house. I think that is reckless."

Four Japanese -- two diplomats and two journalists -- have been killed in Iraq since the start of the U.S.-led war.

Five Japanese civilians, including journalists and an aid worker, were kidnapped in Iraq in April. Militants threatened to kill three of them unless Japan pulled out its troops.

Those hostages were released unharmed but they drew heavy criticism for going to Iraq despite warnings about the danger.

Koda's family has received calls from people outraged by his action. "It can't be helped if we are criticised," his mother, Setsuko, told the news conference.

She added the family -- unlike relatives of the earlier hostages -- did not plan to ask for the troops to be withdrawn.

"We are simply ordinary, private citizens. We are not in a position to ask or demand that the government do anything specific," she said.

"We can only say that we sincerely hope that peace comes to Iraq as soon as possible," she said.

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