THE families of three Japanese nationals kidnapped in Iraq and threatened with execution, tearfully begged the government to pull its troops out of the country as Tokyo reiterated there would be no withdrawal.

Japan’s prime minister Junichiro Koizumi today denounced terrorist threats to burn alive three hostages as ”cowardly”, vowing troops would stay in Iraq despite tearful pleas from the captives’ families to bow to the gunmen’s demands.

Three Japanese have been taken hostage by Iraqi rebels who have threatened to kill them if Tokyo does not withdraw its troops from the country.