WASHINGTON, June 17 (UPI) -- The son of U.S. hostage Paul Johnson said Thursday the Saudi government would do "whatever it takes" to free his father.
"I just really think the Saudi government will do whatever it takes for my father's safe return home," Paul Marshall Johnson III, told NBC.
At the U.S. State Department, spokesman Richard Boucher said the Saudis could do many things.
"There are a variety of options available to Saudi authorities, who have the lead here, to try to locate him, free him, crack down on the network," he said.
Johnson's comments follow a letter by Ramzi Abu Abdullah, a Saudi friend of the hostage, published on the Internet, calling for his release.
An al-Qaida-linked group kidnapped Johnson during the weekend. Videotape broadcast two days ago showed the aviation engineer blindfolded and handcuffed as he stated his name. The kidnappers said they would execute him by Friday if their demands for their allies to be released were not met. Saudi authorities have said they won't negotiate under threat.
