Japanese families beg for pull-out of troops to save kidnapped trio

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.

Television networks repeatedly aired dramatic video of militants holding aid workers Noriaki Imai, 18, and Nahoko Takato, 34, and photojournalist Soichiro Koriyama, 32.

"We want to do everything we can to see that he comes home," said Naoko Imai, whose son, Noriaki, was among the captives. "I want the government to pull the troops out."