Japan will not Recall Soldiers from Iraq

The Japanese news agency Kyodo reported that Koizumi told government spokesman Hiroyuki Hosoda that Japanese soldiers will not retreat from Iraq.

Meanwhile, Koizumi has given orders to investigate reports on the hostage situation and, if the reports are true, to take necessary action to rescue the hostage.

Jordanian terrorist Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi’s "Iraqi Al Qaeda Jihad Organization" has announced that they have taken a Japanese soldier hostage and warned that if Japan does not withdraw its soldiers from Iraq within 48 hours, the hostage will be killed.