A mother pleads as Japan hostage deadline passes

The deadline set by Islamist militants threatening to kill two Japanese men unless they were given $200 million passed Jan. 23, after one captive's mother made a desperate plea to save her son's life.
      
Japan had heard nothing from the extremists holding Kenji Goto, a freelance journalist, or Haruna Yukawa, the self-employed contractor who he had gone to rescue, the chief government spokesman said.
      
"There has been no message" from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) since the 72-hour deadline expired at 2:50 pm (0550 GMT) Friday, Yoshihide Suga told reporters.
      
"The situation remains very severe, but the government is making its utmost efforts, asking and asking for cooperation from many countries and heads of ethnic groups."       

Reporters waiting for any announcement on the two men's fate said Prime Minister Shinzo Abe looked tired and drawn as he rushed from one commitment to the next.
      
Hours earlier, Junko Ishido launched an emotional appeal for mercy for Goto, her son.
      
"I say to you people of the Islamic State, Kenji is not your enemy. Please release him," she said.
      
"Kenji was always saying 'I hope to save lives of children on battlefields'. He was reporting war from a neutral position."       

The high drama in Tokyo comes three days after the sudden release by the Islamic State group of a video in which Goto and Yukawa, apparently kneeling in the desert, are threatened with execution by a British-accented man.
      
"You now have 72 hours to pressure your government into making a wise decision by paying the $200 million to save the lives of your citizens," he said.
                      
The Islamists linked the...