SDP chief urges [Japan PM] Koizumi to resign over hostage crisis

[Qanisqineq]

http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=news&cat=9&id=294650

SDP chief urges Koizumi to resign over hostage crisis

TOKYO — The Social Democratic Party (SDP) leader Mizuho Fukushima demanded on Saturday that Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi resign over the kidnapping of three Japanese citizens in Iraq.

Fukushima made the demand in an opening address at a special convention of the party at its headquarters in Tokyo. Fukushima said Koizumi should take responsibility for the hostage incident and resign. She also demanded the immediate withdrawal of Japan's Self-Defense Forces (SDF) troops from Iraq, as demanded by the kidnappers. (Kyodo News)

[Andrushka]

1. He should resign for being a heartless bastard...

TOKYO, April 10 (Xinhuanet) - Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has no plan to meet relatives of three Japanese abducted in Iraq while insisting there will be no withdrawal of the Self-Defense Forces, Kyodo News reported Saturday.

"There will be nothing to talk about," the premier told family members through the Foreign Ministry. He also denied chance of direct talks in the future.

<snip>

The families of Soichiro Koriyama, 32, Nahoko Takato, 34, and Noriaki Imai, 18, came to Tokyo on Friday. They are pleading the government to pull troops out of Iraq, even if temporarily, in exchange of the release of their beloved.

:scared:

http://news3.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-04/10/content_1411786.htm