Body of Japanese Journalist Identified in Iraq

By: (AP) A charred body found in the wreckage of a car attacked in Iraq last week has been identified as that of a Japanese journalist, the government said Thursday.

The body had been presumed to be that of Shinsuke Hashida, 61, who was riding in the car with his nephew Kotaro Ogawa, 33, when they were ambushed south of Baghdad.

Ogawa's body, found six miles from the wreck, was quickly identified, but officials hesitated to confirm Hashida's death until his remains had been examined.

The tests were conducted in Kuwait, where Hashida's family was awaiting the results, said Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda.

Last Thursday, Hashida and Ogawa were trapped in a car that exploded after being fired at by unidentified assailants south of Baghdad. Their driver escaped the explosion but their translator was also killed in the attack.

Relatives identified Ogawa's body Monday after they were flown to Kuwait.

A Foreign Ministry official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said arrangements were being made for the relatives and the bodies to return to Japan but no date has been set yet.

The two journalists were in Iraq contributing to the Japanese tabloid daily, Nikkan Gendai.

Four Japanese have been killed in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion of the country last year.

Two Japanese diplomats were killed in November when their unarmed car was ambushed near the northern Iraqi city of Tikrit.