in early april 2004, three japanese- a journalist and two aid workers- were kidnapped, but they were released several days later on april 15. the following day, another two japanese- an aid worker and a journalist- were kidnapped and released within 24 hours. the kidnappers of the original three had threatened to burn the hostages alive if japanese troops were not removed from iraq within three days. a spokeswoman for the islamic clerics committee, which negotiated their release, said that growing public calls in japan for the sdf troops to be withdrawn from iraq led to the release of three japanese.