Japan says the kidnapping of a Japanese national in Iraq will not affect its military deployment there.

The Islamic militant group, Army of Ansar al-Sunna announced Monday through its website it had kidnapped 44-year-old Akihiko Saito after ambushing a group of five foreign contractors.

Saito was allegedly seriously injured in the fighting and the others were killed.

But Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura told the media the Japanese side is still verifying the information.

"We are hurrying to confirm Mr. Saito's whereabouts, and if his reported seizure or serious injury turns out to be true, we must move urgently. For now, our top priority is to gather accurate information."

The government has set up a task force to deal with the kidnapping.

Defence Chief Yoshinori Ono, however, stressed the latest developments would not affect Japan's deployment of 550 troops on a humanitarian mission in southern Iraq, and confirmed the safety of the troops.

(CRI.com May 11, 2005)