Japan continued desperate efforts Monday to contact and negotiate with the group holding three Japanese hostage in Iraq.
But the kidnappers apparently remained silent, after more than a full day had passed since their promise to release the hostages within 24 hours had been broadcast.
The captors, who identified themselves as members of Saraya al-Mujahideen, faxed the statement to Arab satellite TV broadcaster Al-Jazeera, which aired the news around 2:40 a.m. Japan time on Sunday.