TOKYO, May 28 (UPI) -- Government officials in Tokyo said Saturday they believed a Japanese man held hostage in Iraq was dead.
Japanese security guard Akihiko Saito, 44, was declared missing in early May after the convoy he was protecting in Iraq was ambushed.
An Islamic Web site used to publish insurgent announcements posted a video showing Saito before and after his his death, CNN reported.
Iraqi Minister for National Security Affairs Abdul Karim Al-Inzi said both Japanese and Iraqi governments had tried to gain Saito's release, but that "the killing happened before they were able to reach a solution with the kidnappers."
"At the same time, this horrific act will not effect relationships between the Iraqi and Japanese governments," al-Inzi said. "We reaffirm our commitment to stopping all acts of terror in our country and establish security and stability in Iraq once again."
