Islamic State have reportedly executed Japanese hostage Haruna Yukawa, Kenji Goto shown pleading for his life in new video

Islamic State have reportedly released an audio video announcing the execution of one of the two Japanese hostages who were being held by the extremist group.

The video, which is nearly three minutes long, consists of a still photo of captured Japanese journalist Kenji Goto, holding an alleged photograph showing the beheaded corpse of his fellow hostage, Haruna Yukawa.

In the video, Goto blames Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for the death of Haruna Yukawa.

Speaking in English, Goto laments: 'Abe, you killed Haruna. You did not take the threat of my captors seriously and you did not act within that 72 hours.

Goto goes on to claim that his captors are no longer demanding the $200m (£133.4m) ransom and are now calling for a prisoner swap.

Islamic State are demanding the release of failed female suicide bomber Sajida Mubarak al-Rishawi, who attempted to blow herself up as part of the 2005 Amman bombings in Jordan.

'They (Islamic State) no longer want money so you don't need to worry about funding terrorists. They are just demanding the release of their imprisoned sister, Sajida al-Rishawi. It is simple, you give them Sajida and I will be released.'

The video which has yet to be independently verified comes after a 72-hour deadline expired for the Japanese government to pay for the safe release of both hostages.

Analysts have already questioned the authenticity of the video, citing the fact that the video was not released by the official Islamic State media branch, al-Furqan media and does not open with the basmala at the beginning.

It is also the first time Islamic State have not used visual footage, choosing to use a single still photo of the alleged dead hostage.

Likewise the demands for a prisoner swap would be a surprising U-turn by the Islamist group if the video is proved to be genuine.