Japan no longer confident about safety of hostages

The Japanese government is no longer confident about the safety of three hostages in Iraq, the government's top spokesman said Monday.

"From various standpoints there was a time when we were able to judge that they were safe, but we have not been able to confirm it at current moment," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda told reporters.

Information about their fate was confusing over the last several days. Qatar-based Al-Jazeera TV channel reported Saturday the Iraqi militants who kidnapped the Japanese nationals would released them within 24 hours. But hope was damped when the deadline expired shortly after midnight Sunday without their release.

The same broadcaster also showed Sunday an interview with a self-proclaimed Iraqi mediator who said the kidnappers had threatened to kill the first hostage if Japan did not withdraw the Self-Defense Forces within 24 hours.

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has said he will not order a withdrawal because the Japanese troops are there on humanitarian mission. He is scheduled to hold talks with visiting US Vice President Dick Cheney Tuesday, in which the abduction issue is likely to be discussed.