The Hindu : International : Japanese hostage in Iraq killed

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 29, 2005

International

International

Japanese hostage in Iraq killed

BAGHDAD: Iraqi authorities on Saturday confirmed the death of Japanese hostage Akihiko Saito and condemned his killing at the hands of kidnappers. ``The Iraqi Minister of National Security, Abdul Karim al-Inizi, condemned the assassination of the Japanese hostage by his abductors,'' said a statement released by the Government.

The statement said Iraqi authorities had been making ``efforts'' to secure his release, ``but his slaying occurred before reaching a final result with the concerned parties.''

A Japanese Embassy official in Baghdad said he had seen a statement and video posted Friday on an extremist Islamic web site claiming that Saito had died.

The official, speaking on customary condition of anonymity, said pictures of a bloodied Asian-looking victim had been posted and Japanese authorities were trying to find out who the person was. The statement was released in the name of the Sunni militant group Ansar al-Sunnah Army. ``Apart from what was shown on the Web site we have our own sources that confirmed the killing of the Japanese hostage,'' Mr. al-Inizi's chief media officer, Rasha Ali, said.

Five die in blasts

Meanwhile, two suicide attackers detonated car bombs in northern Iraq on Saturday, killing at least five Iraqis and wounding 40, hospital and police officials said. The bombs detonated near an Iraqi military base in Sinjar, 120 km northwest of Mosul, said a police official.

The bodies of least five Iraqis were brought to Sinjar Hospital, said hospital official Ahmed Ali. He added that 40 people were wounded. — AP

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