Jordan prepared to exchange prisoners to free pilot

Jordan said it was still ready to hand over a jailed Iraqi militant to Islamic State in a swap deal if its captured pilot was released.

Jordan’s security and military agencies were making constant checks to see whether the pilot, Muath al-Kasaesbeh, was still alive, government spokesman Mohammad al-Momani said.

“We are still ready to hand over the convict Sajidaal-Rishawi in return for the return of our son and our hero,” Mr Momani added.

Mr Kasaesbeh was captured in December after his F-16 fighter jet crashed in territory controlled by the militants in Syria.

Jordan also strongly condemned the killing of Japanese hostage Kenji Goto and said the militant group had rejected all efforts made by the kingdom to release him

“The Jordanian government strongly condemns the execution of the second Japanese hostage by the terrorist organisation Daesh,” Jordan’s government spokesman told state media, using a pejorative Arabic acronym for the group. 

The kingdom “will do everything it can to save the life and secure the release of its pilot,” government spokesman Mr Momani told the official Petra news agency.

US President Barack Obama has condemned the “heinous murder” of Mr Goto.

He vowed that the United States would continue its actions to destroy the hardline Islamist group.

“The United States condemns the heinous murder of Japanese citizen and journalist Kenji Goto by the terrorist group ISIL,” Mr Obama said, using an acronym for the Islamic State group, which released a video yesterday appearing to show the beheading of Mr Goto.

“Standing together with a broad coalition of allies and partners, the United States will continue taking decisive action to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL,” Mr Obama added.

Japanese Defence Minister Gen Nakatani said the video appeared to be genuine.

There was no mention in the one-minute video of the Jordanian pilot.

Islamic State’s threats to kill the group’s Japanese hostages were issued after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced earlier this month $200 million in non-military aid for countries contending with Islamic State.

Mr Goto’s mother Junko Ishido, who earlier had appealed for his safe release, said: “I am too upset to find the words to express myself. My son’s last act was to go to Syria to help a fellow Japanese (Yukawa). So I want people to understand my son’s kindness and courage.”

Mr Goto’s older brother, Junichi Goto, said, “I had hoped to give thanks for his return alive. But, as his brother, this outcome is very regrettable.”

Mr Goto began working as a full-time war correspondent in 1996 and had established a reputation as a careful and reliable operator for Japanese broadcasters, including NHK.

In October, his wife had a baby, the couple’s second child. He had an older daughter from a previous marriage, people who know the family said.

Mr Goto went to Syria to try and find Haruna Yukawa who was being held by IS.

Mr Yukawa, was captured in August outside the Syrian city of Aleppo.

A video appeared online last week showing the apparent beheading of Mr Yukawa.

Friends say Mr Goto travelled from Tokyo to Istanbul and from there to Syria, sending a message on 25 October that he had crossed the border and was safe.

That was the last time he was seen before an Islamic State video released on 20 January appearing to show both Japanese men and threatening to kill them unless the group received $200 million in ransom.

Minister for Foreign Affairs also condemned the murder of Mr Goto saying “we must recall his bravery and humanity, while condemning utterly the depraved barbarity of his death”.

He said: “”On behalf of the Irish people I send my condolences to the family of Kenji Goto and to the government of Prime Minister Abe and the Japanese people.”

 

RTE NEWS