The mother of Islamic State captive Kenji Goto appealed for his life on Wednesday after a new video appeared to show the Japanese journalist saying he had 24 hours to live unless Jordan released a would-be suicide bomber.
The voice on the video added that another hostage, Jordanian pilot Muath al-Kasaesbeh, had a shorter time to live. Japan confirmed the existence of the video at 11pm on Tuesday.
The voice said Mr Goto would be killed unless Jordan freed death row inmate Sajida al-Rishawi, an Iraqi woman held by Jordan for her role in a 2005 suicide bombing that killed 60 people in Amman.
"Please save Kenji's life. I call on you to work with all your strength in negotiations with the Jordanian government," Mr Goto's mother, Junko Ishido, said in a letter to Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe that she read out at a news conference.
“His remaining time is very short ... I beg you to do everything in your power,” Ishido said, reiterating that her son was not an enemy of Islam.
Mr Abe said the latest video was “despicable”. He called on Jordan to cooperate in working for Mr Goto’s quick release, but vowed Tokyo would not give in to terrorism.
The authenticity of the video could not be verified, but Japanese chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga said it appeared to show Mr Goto. The voice on the video resembled that of Mr Goto in an earlier video over the weekend which the Japanese and US governments believed was authentic.
If verified, the video would be the third involving 47-year-old Mr Goto, a veteran war reporter.
The hostage issue is the deepest diplomatic crisis Mr Abe - who must tread a fine line between appearing firm but not callous - has faced in just over two years in office.
“While making every effort to contribute proactively to world peace and stability without giving in to terrorism, we will exert all means to prevent terrorism in our country,” he told parliament.
Agencies