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Japanese Hostage Will Not Deter Mission
SecurityProNews
Staff Writer
2005-05-10
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Japanese Minister of Defense Yoshinori Ohno said Japan's humanitarian mission would remain on course, unaffected by a militant group's taking hostage of a Japanese citizen.
On a website, the Ansar al-Sunnah Army claimed to have kidnapped 44-year-old Akihiko Saito, an employee of British security firm, Hart GMSSCO. Saito was traveling in a convoy when the self-proclaimed mujahadeen ambushed it en route from an American base at Al Assad.
The convoy contained an escort of 12 Iraqis and 5 Japanese contractors. The group claimed that, after a "big battle," all but Saito were killed.
"We are hurrying to confirm Mr. Saito's whereabouts, and if his reported seizure or serious injury turns out to be true, we must move urgently," Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura said. "For now, our top priority is to gather accurate information."
Information gathering and cooperation with officials will be the main focal point, as the Self Defense Ground Force will remain unaffected in Iraq.
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