An Iraqi group linked to al-Qaeda network threatened in a video posted on a website Tuesday to behead a Japanese hostage within 48 hours unless Japan withdraws its forces from Iraq. In Japan, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi rejected the demand on Wednesday, stating he will not tolerate or succumb to "terrorism." The hostage's family identified him as Shosei Koda, 24, of Nogata, Fukuoka Prefecture, Chief Cabinet Secretary, Hiroyuki Hosoda, told a press conference in Tokyo, according to Kyodo News. Koda said in English his captors were asking why the Japanese government broke the law and dispatched troops to Iraq. He then conveyed a message to Koizumi in Japanese.

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