Japan Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura said Sunday fingerprints confirm the headless body found in Baghdad is that of Japanese hostage Shosei Koda.
A group that called itself the Qaeda of Jihad, a new name for a group following Abu Musab al-Zarqawi -- previously known as Unification and Jihad -- had threatened to behead Koda if Japan did not withdraw its troops from Iraq, reported CNN Sunday
"It is an evil act of terrorism to kill innocent civilians," said Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who expressed condolences to Koda's family. "We feel deep indignation and we can never forgive this terrorist act."
Koda apparently visited Iraq out of curiosity, the Kyodo news agency reported.
Koizumi vowed to stay the course in Iraq, where Japanese troops are helping in rebuilding and humanitarian efforts. The Japanese troops' tour of duty was to have ended Dec. 14, but Japan has agreed to an extension.
Japan's Constitution prohibits Japanese troops from engaging in combat.
"We cannot lose to terrorism, we must not yield to brute force," Koizumi told reporters. "I believe we should continue to support the Iraqi people's efforts to rebuild their country."
© Copyright 2004 by United Press International
