Japanese PM refuses to meet hostages' relatives

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has no plan to meet relatives of three Japanese abducted in Iraq while insisting there will be no withdrawal of the Self-Defense Forces, Kyodo News reported Saturday.

"There will be nothing to talk about," the premier told family members through the Foreign Ministry. He also denied chance of direct talks in the future.

Qatar-based al-Jazeera satellite TV broadcast a video footage Thursday taken by an Iraqi armed group that demanded Japan pull the troops out of Iraq within three days, otherwise, the hostages will be killed.

The families of Soichiro Koriyama, 32, Nahoko Takato, 34, and Noriaki Imai, 18, came to Tokyo on Friday. They are pleading the government to pull troops out of Iraq, even if temporarily, in exchange of the release of their beloved.

Koizumi and senior Japanese officials have pledged the government will do their utmost to save the three while reiterating refusal of retreat. Koizumi is expected to appear on al-Jazeera to call for the release.

So far, no contact has been established with the kidnappers, the government said.

Source: Xinhua