US politicians paid tribute to the victims of the Paris attacks by holding up pencils during the speech.
In France, five Chechens were arrested in the south on suspicion of preparing a terrorist attack, a day after hundreds of thousands took part in a march in Grozny against Charlie Hebdo's depiction of the Prophet Muhammad. A cache of explosives was found in an apartment in Montpellier, where four of the group were arrested. A fifth man was seized in Beziers, 65km to the southwest.
France remains on high alert following the attacks by jihadists in Paris that left 17 dead. It emerged yesterday that four men face charges of providing logistical support to Amedy Coulibaly, the killer of a policewoman and four hostages. Five others arrested in the investigation were released without charge. A Bulgarian court also approved the extradition of a Frenchman who admits knowing the Charlie Hebdo attackers but denies being an extremist. France has promised measures to boost security forces, which Prime Minister Manuel Valls was to unveil today.
Japan has given a mixed response to a new Isis ransom video released on Tuesday night, insisting that saving the lives of the two Japanese hostages was its immediate priority while also pledging not to bow to the group's demands.
The British fighter known as "Jihadi John" gave Japan 72 hours to find a US$200 million ($261 million) ransom for two men kidnapped in northern Syria, in a twist to his gruesome series of propaganda videos.
Hostages Haruna Yukawa and Kenji Goto were shown wearing Guantanamo Bay-style orange jumpsuits beside the black-clad figure of Jihadi John.
He referred to a pledge made by the Japanese Government of US$200 million to countries affected by Isis, which he called a donation to the killing of women and children, and said it should now pay a matching US$100 million each to save the two men.
"I strongly demand that they not be harmed and that they be immediately released," said Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. "The international community will not give in to any form of terrorism and we have to make sure that we work together." That appeared to suggest he would stand with Japan's close ally, the US, which like Britain refuses to countenance paying ransoms for hostages.
However, Abe also said he attached "utmost priority" to saving the two men's lives.
With Japan not using its military for active engagement, a rescue mission like those attempted twice by the American military is unlikely.
The video marked the first time that Isis has publicly demanded money.
Despite its ransom demand, Isis probably does not want or need the money: indeed, by making the appeal for money so public, and for such an outlandish quantity, it is making it more difficult for the Japanese Government to comply.
The video may be meant to keep Isis in the spotlight. It depends for its success on a sense of a momentum that discourages speculation about its long-term viability. The video revives the strategy that won it the most headlines.
- AFP
