Japan considering all available channels to seek release of IS-held hostages   

解救人質時限將至 日本仍未掌握與IS溝通渠道

極端組織“伊斯蘭國”(IS)揚言如果到23日下午還收不到贖金就要殺害被綁架的日本人質，但至22日為止，日本政府一直無法掌握同該組織溝通的渠道。另一方面，與“伊斯蘭國”關系密切的敘利亞反對派人士作證稱，兩名日本人質被扣留在敘利亞和伊拉克邊境地帶。[查看全文]

The Japanese government on Thursday has desperately being looking into all and every possible channels available to it in a bid to negotiate with Islamic State (IS) militants on the release of two Japanese nationals being held to ransom, before a 72-hour deadline imposed by the group expires.

An IS member, who appeared in a video uploaded to the YouTube video-hosting site on Tuesday wielding a knife as Kenji Goto, 47, a freelance journalist from Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture, and Haruna Yukawa, 42, a security contractor from Chiba Prefecture, knelt shackled in orange jumpsuits, demanded that Japan pay a ransom of 200 million U.S. dollars (23.6 billion yen) for the lives of the hostages, the same amount pledged by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in a speech given in Cairo on Saturday.

During the speech Abe said that Japan would support global anti- Islamic State efforts and contribute to the countries involved in the campaign. The prime minister also said Japan would provide support to Iraqi and Syrian refugees.

In the video, the masked militant decked out in black combat gear, addressed Abe directly stating that the Japanese leader had, "willingly volunteered to take part in this crusade," and had, " proudly donated 100 million U.S. dollars to kill our women and children and to destroy the homes of Muslims." The other 100 million U.S. dollars demanded by the IS member on behalf of the group was for Japan allegedly contributing a further 100 million U. S. dollars in international efforts to curb the expansion of IS.

But as the clock ticks down following the initial demand being made Tuesday, with the IS member saying in the video the two Japanese citizens will be killed when the three-day deadline expires Friday, officials in Tokyo have yet to confirm whether they have managed to establish contact with the group and negotiate the release of the hostages, or mediate some kind of extension on the deadline.

In a press conference earlier Thursday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga declined to comment whether the safety of the hostages had been confirmed, or whether there had been any further contact from IS since the video was posted to the popular YouTube site on Tuesday.

The foreign ministry here said that officials, including Abe, had been ardently trying to make contact with the militants through a number of channels, comprising, but not limited to, notable Muslim leaders as well as tribal factions in Syria, although the prime minister himself has stated that Japan will not give in to terrorism.

Abe cut short a six-day tour of the Middle East and returned to Japan Wednesday and has not only refused to give in to the terrorist's demands, but also pledged Japan's continuing humanitarian aid to people affected by conflict in regions held by IS.