Tokyo - The fate of a Japanese journalist and a Jordanian held hostage by the Islamic State militant group was uncertain on Friday after a deadline for a prisoner swap passed.
Japanese journalist Kenji Goto and Jordanian pilot Mu'ath al-Kasasbeh were being held by the Islamic State group, but Amman said it wanted proof that the pilot was alive before releasing a convicted terrorist in exchange.
The deadline for the release was Thursday at sunset in Iraq.
“I'm very worried. I would like my son's life to be saved in exchange for mine,” Junko Ishido, the mother of Goto, said after the deadline had passed.
“All efforts are being made to secure the release of Mr Kenji Goto,” Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said at a parliamentary session on Friday.
Major Japanese newspapers had the hostage crisis as their top story on Friday.
Jordanian Minister of State for Information Mohammed al-Mumani told Japanese media after the deadline passed that his country would continue to work closely with Japan for the release of Goto.
Jordan said it wanted proof that al-Kasasbeh was alive before it moved ahead with a prisoner swap for convict Sajida al-Rishawi.
Sapa-dpa