New Online Image Cites 24-Hour Deadline for Goto's Life

Tokyo, Jan. 28 (Jiji Press)--A new online image of what is believed to be Japanese man Kenji Goto, who is held captive by the Islamic State militant group, was uploaded on Tuesday night Japan time, with a 24-hour deadline set for his life. A message attached to the image says in what appears to be Goto's voice that he was told that this is his final message. He also suggested that he and a Jordanian air force pilot, also held captive by the Islamic State, would be both killed if action is delayed. The message, spoken in English, includes a demand for a one-for-one swap that would see Goto, a 47-year-old freelance journalist, exchanged for Iraqi woman Sajida al-Rishawi, a failed suicide bomber on death row now jailed in Jordan. The message demands that the Japanese government pressure the Jordanian government to accept the swap. The man in the new online image holds a photo of a person appearing to be the Jordanian pilot, Muath al-Kasasbeh, and says that only 24 hours are left for him. The time left for the pilot is even shorter, he says. Noting that the ball is on the Jordanian side, the man says that the Jordanian government would be responsible for the pilot's death if it drags its feet further. The man says then he would die. He is wearing an orange shirt and is handcuffed. The Japanese government is examining the credibility of the new image and voice message. In an image of Goto posted online last Saturday, the Islamic State also demanded the release of al-Rishawi in exchange for Goto. In Saturday's image, Goto was holding a picture of a murdered body, believed to be that of Haruna Yukawa, 42, another Japanese hostage of the jihadist group. The Japanese government has been apparently aiming to rescue Goto through a two-for-two deal, in which the Japanese man and the Jordanian pilot would be exchanged for al-Rishawi and another person held in Jordan. Tokyo has sought Jordan's cooperation for the swap. The Japanese hostage crisis began on Jan. 20, when an online video was confirmed in which a masked man claiming to be an Islamic State member was threatening to kill Goto and Yukawa unless Japan pays 200 million dollars in ransom within 72 hours. The captors then switched their demand to the release of al-Rishawi. Commenting on the new online image, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters at the office of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe early Wednesday that the Japanese government has asked Jordan for cooperation to win an early release of Goto while the situation remains very difficult. Suga also said he and other government officials confirmed that there is no change in the position. Japan plans to continue working closely with Jordan through its hostage crisis task force in the Jordanian capital of Amman by putting the hostages' lives first. Government officials recognized the new online image shortly past 11 p.m. Tuesday (2 p.m. GMT). Suga and other officials then worked on gathering information and discussed how to deal with the new development in the hostage crisis. For Jordan, meanwhile, it appears very difficult to accept the demand for the one-for-one swap of Goto and al-Rishawi because the country is putting priority on the release of the captured air force pilot. But as the Islamic State threatened to kill the pilot ahead of Goto in the new online image, it could still be possible for the Jordanian government to accept the swap of Goto and al-Rishawi in order to save the life of the pilot, sources said. The Jordanian pilot was held captive by the Islamic State after his fighter jet crashed in northern Syria late last month. END