The Japanese government has announced that the apparent kidnapping of a Japanese national by an Iraqi militant group will not lead it to withdraw its forces from Iraq. In fact, the family of the kidnapped man, 44 year-old Skihiko Saito, indicated that it wanted the government to 'stay the course.'

Japan presently has 550 troops stationed in southern Iraq on a humanitarian mission according to Japanese defense chief Yoshinori Ono.

Meanwhile, the Japanese government was doing all it could to verify the information about Saito's capture that was put on a website used by the militant group calling itself the Ansar al-Sunnah Army.

'We are hurrying to confirm Mr. Saito's whereabouts, and if his reported seizure or serious injury turns out to be true, we must move urgently,' Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura told reporters. 'For now, our top priority is to gather accurate information.'

The brother of the captured man went on Japanese television and apologized to the nation. Hironobu Saito told reporters, 'I am so sorry that my brother Akihiko caused lots of concerns and troubles to the Japanese government, the people of the Foreign Ministry, and the Japanese people. I am sorry.'

Hironobu held back tears as he added, 'More than anyone, I think my brother went into Iraq aware of the dangers,' he said. 'If the Japanese government decides it's best to stay in Iraq, I will support (that). ... I do not expect the Japanese government to waver for the sake of my brother.'

Hironobu did ask that if the reports of his brother's injuries were true, that the kidnappers give him appropriate medical care.

Thus far, there has been no verification as to Mr. Saito's whereabouts or injuries although the search for information continues.