The Japanese hostage crisis in Iraq has ended in the death of Mr. Shosei Koda, a 24-year-old traveler, whose decapitated body was found in central Baghdad on Sunday. He had been detained by Islamic militants demanding that Japan withdraw its troops from the country. The government, having failed in its rescue efforts, is coming under criticism.

"I feel strong anger at this brutal and inhuman act," Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said in a statement. "We will continue our fight against terrorism with determination." At the same time, he emphasized that members of the Self-Defense Forces will continue to support humanitarian and reconstruction efforts in the southern Iraqi city of Samawah.

In a video message last Wednesday, a militant group calling itself the "al-Qaeda Organization of Holy War of Mesopotamia" said that it would kill Mr. Koda unless the SDF unit was withdrawn within 48 hours. The government believes that he was murdered by the same group. The slaying of a civilian hostage, a despicable act, is simply unforgivable.