(VOVworld) – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe convened an emergency cabinet meeting on Sunday following an online video that purported to show an Islamic State militant beheading Japanese journalist Kenji Goto. Abe expressed his condolences to Goto's family. He called the act “despicable” and vowed to "never forgive terrorists".
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| Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks during an emergency Cabinet meeting in Tokyo on Sunday, February 1, 2015. (Photo: Reuters) |
Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters after the meeting that the Japanese government is trying to verify the authenticity of the video released on Saturday. The fate of Jordanian pilot Maaz Al Kassasbeh who has been held by IS was made unclear during the video.
World leaders strongly condemned the cruel killing of Japanese captives and promised to stand by Japan in the fight against terrorism. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon "condemns in the strongest terms the barbaric murder of Kenji Goto” and called "for the unconditional release of all hostages held by IS”.