Apparent hostage appears on video

CAIRO, Egypt – Video posted Tuesday on a militant Islamic Web site showed what it claimed was a Japanese captive kidnapped by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi’s group and threatened to behead him within 48 hours unless Japan pulls its troops from Iraq.

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi rejected the demand.

“I won’t withdraw troops,” he told Japan’s Kyodo news.

He also ordered Hiroyuki Hosoda, his chief cabinet secretary, to confirm the facts of the case and to consider measures to free the hostage if the kidnapping is confirmed, according to Kyodo.

The man was identified only as someone connected to the Japanese armed forces. He spoke briefly in halting English and Japanese, addressing himself to Koizumi.

“They asked me why Japanese government broke the law and sent troops to Iraq,” he said in English. “They want Japanese government and Koizumi prime minister, they want to withdraw the Japanese troops from Iraq or cut my head.”

He then paused, sighed and switched into Japanese.

“Mr. Koizumi. They seek the withdrawal of Japanese Self-Defense Forces,” he said, adding that a militant whose name was inaudible “says he will take my head off.”

“I’m sorry. I want to return to Japan again,” the captive said.