Isis Japanese hostage Kenji Goto and Jordanian pilot 'have less than 24 hours to live'
Islamic State's Japanese captive Kenji Goto has allegedly appeared in another short Isis video appealing to the Jordanian government to release Sajida al-Rishawi, an Iraqi woman facing the death penalty for the 2005 bombings that killed 60 people at hotels in the Arab Kingdom, or he will be executed along with a captured pilot from Jordan's air force.
In the footage, the Japanese journalist appears holding a picture of the pilot, whose plane crashed in territory controlled by IS last month.
"I've been told this is my last message, and I've also been told that the barrier obstructing my freedom is just the Jordanian government delaying the handover of Sajida [al-Rishawi]," says a voiceover that appears to be that of Goto.
"Time is running very short. It is me for her. What seems so difficult to understand. She's been a prisoner for a decade and I've only been a prisoner for a few months," he continues, telling the Japanese government to put pressure on Jordan.
"Any more delays from the Jordanian government will mean they're responsible for the death of their pilot which will then be followed by mine. I only have 24 hours left to live. And the pilot has even less," he said.
The clock is ticking for Goto, following the beheading of fellow Japanese hostage Haruna Yukawa by Islamic extremists last weekend.
"Please don't leave us to die. Any delaying tactics will only see both of us getting killed. The ball is now in the Jordanian's court," he concluded. King Abdullah of Jordan has said previously that securing the safe return of fighter pilot Muath al-Kaseasbeh "tops the country's priorities."
IS recently changed its demands for the life of remaining Japanese hostage, Goto. The terror group previously demanded a $200m (£132m) ransom in return for Goto and Yukawa's lives. Yukawa was executed last weekend in a video which was confirmed as genuine by Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
A member of the Japanese cabinet said talks were ongoing with Jordan over securing the release of the hostage. PM Abe has taken a firm line so far by refusing to bow to an earlier IS demand.
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