Body found in Iraq unlikely to be Japanese hostage
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-10-29 17:21

An unidentified body found near the Iraqi city of Tikrit is unlikely to be that of Japanese hostage Shosei Koda, a Reuters report from Tikrit said.

Police were quoted as saying the victim was very dark-skinned, had a moustache and was dressed in a white shirt and baggy salwar pants commonly worn in India and Pakistan, which does not fit Koda's description, the report said.

A Japanese Foreign Ministry official said it is taking time to verify the report of the body because hundreds of Asians are working in the region.

The bullet-ridden body, with what appeared to be rope burns on the wrists, was found near Tikrit, 175 kilometers north of Baghdad, early Thursday morning, Reuters said.

Germany news agency DPA earlier reported the discovery of the body, quoting security staff at a general hospital in Tikrit.

Close

Today's Top News     Top World News
China's rate hike contributes to oil price slump         Bad news dogs Bush as election draws near         Traffic law shores up road safety         China takes firm stance on arable land         Beijing Olympic venues on schedule, IOC told         More job vacancies reported in third quarter	EU leaders to sign constitution today       Iraqi war deaths count to 100,000 -- survey       Gravely ill Arafat leaves West Bank for France       Japan scrambles after report Asian body found in Iraq       UN votes overwhelmingly against U.S. embargo on Cuba       Three Palestinians, Israeli soldier die in violence