New message says «24 hours left» for Islamic State's Japanese hostage
In the audio message, a man who claims to be Goto demands that Jordan swiftly release Sajida al-Rishawi, an Iraqi woman on death row for an attempted suicide bombing in Jordan in 2005, saying he has "24 hours left to live." The voice called for the one-to-one exchange of Goto and al-Rishawi, saying, "Her for me. A straight exchange." "Japan has sought cooperation from Jordan in an extremely severe situation for Mr. Goto's swift release, and this policy will not change," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters early Wednesday, Kyodo reports. The plan was conveyed to Japan's local task force in Amman, the top government spokesman said. "I've been told this is my last message, and I've been told that the barrier obstructing my freedom is now just the Jordanian government delaying the handover of Sajida," the voice said. The voice also called on the Japanese government to "put all their political pressure on Jordan." The image of the man likely to be Goto wearing an orange garment is holding a picture of a man who appears to be 1st Lt. Muath al Kasaesbeh, a Jordanian military pilot apparently held hostage by the Islamic State group. Full story
