Japan urges Lebanon handing over elements of the Red Army

Japanese sources in Cairo told ArabicNews.com that the Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura called on the Lebanese government to hand over five Japanese citizens immediately who are members in the prohibited "Japanese Red Army" organization, and who are currently serving three-year prison sentences in Beirut.

The sources added that Komura, the first Japanese foreign minister to pay a visit to Lebanon, presented this demand during his meeting with Lebanese President Emile Lahoud and also presented the demand to Lebanese Prime Minister Salim al-Hoss, confirming the importance of this subject to Japan for applying justice.