Ramblings' Journal

Beheaded Asian body found in Iraq

The beheaded body of an Asian man was found wrapped in an American flag outside Baghdad today.

Officials initially thought it was the body of decapitated hostage Shosei Koda, murdered yesterday by terrorists. But later examination found that it was not Koda's body.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda said Saturday, "It was nearly certain that the body is not the one of Mr. Koda."

More information is sure to follow on this one.

UPDATE 12M ET Sunday: The body has now been positively identified as that of murdered 24 year-old Japanese hostage Shosei Koda.

Japanese Embassy officials in Baghdad sent fingerprints of the body to the Foreign Ministry in Tokyo, and police experts there positively identified the body as Koda's, (Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka) Machimura said.

"It is to our great sorrow that after putting all our efforts into securing his release he has become a victim of terrorism," Machimura said.

"We cannot allow this kind of action. Japan, in cooperation with the international community …, must continue the battle against terrorism."

Monsters. That's the only term to describe such uncivilized individuals masquerading as human beings.

Posted by mhking at October 30, 2004 08:01 PM