Fate Of 2 Japan Nationals Held By Isıl Remains Unknown

The fate of two Japanese nationals held in Syria by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) remained unknown Saturday despite more than 24 hours passing since a deadline expired for their government to pay $200 million for their release.



On previous occasions the group has uploaded videos to the Internet showing the graphic execution of hostages, yet as of 0930GMT Saturday none was apparent and no other announcement as to the condition of the two men -- Kenji Goto and Haruna Yukawa -- appeared to have been made.



Japanese language daily The Yomiuri Shimbun reported Saturday that a senior Japanese diplomat had said that the situation remained tense following the passing of the deadline.



"But we remain focused on gathering information and combing through it," Yasuhide Nakayama told reporters late Friday in Amman, Jordan, where he is overseeing a task force.



"We in the government will pull through this together and put priority on saving human lives."



The government had confirmed at 2: 50 p.m. (0750GMT) Tuesday the existence of an online video in which the group threatened to kill the two within 72 hours unless the ransom of $200 million was paid.



That deadline passed at 2: 50 p.m. Friday.



Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was on a trip to the Middle East when the video of the two hostages was broadcast. During the trip, he had pledged $200 million in non-military aid to the region -- used as justification for the ransom demand.



The government's chief spokesperson, however, has emphasized that the money was strictly for humanitarian purposes, such as helping fund refugee efforts for those fleeing the conflict in Syria.



Japan's pacifistic constitution prohibits the country from sending military aid abroad.



Reports have said that journalist Kenji Goto, 47, had travelled to Syria to find and ask for the release of Haruna Yukawa, a security contractor reportedly captured in August, when he was taken by ISIL.



ISIL has captured large swathes of land in Iraq and Syria, later declaring the territories under its control an Islamic caliphate. 



Three U.S. hostages -- James Foley, Peter "Abdul-Rahman" Kassig and Steven Sotloff  -- have been beheaded in ISIL videos since Aug. 19, as well as British citizens David Haines and Alan Henning.



The group also holds British journalist John Cantlie and a 26-year-old American female aid worker, among others.



www.aa.com.tr/en - Ankara