A video posted on the Internet claims a group led by wanted terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has abducted a Japanese man in Iraq and will execute him unless Japan withdraws its troops within 48 hours. The claim could not be authenticated.
The video, which says it is from the group Al-Qaida in Iraq, appeared late Tuesday. The man is identified only as someone connected to the Japanese armed forces. The footage shows him speaking Japanese and English, and appealing to Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to meet the kidnappers' demands.
Japanese authorities say they are working to verify the tape.
Militants in Iraq kidnapped five Japanese citizens in April and made similar demands before eventually releasing them unharmed