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Jordan follows up on situation of captured pilot

Xinhua, January 30, 2015 Adjust font size:

Jordan Armed Forces said Friday that it was following up on the situation of the Jordanian pilot captured by the Islamic State (IS).

In a statement on its website, the Jordanian army said it was working with all state institutions to follow up on the situation of the pilot, Lt. Mu'ath al-Kaseasbeh.

The army's remark came after the deadline set by the IS for a possible prisoner swap passed.

Late Wednesday, the IS released an audio clip, purportedly from Japanese hostage Kenji Goto who is being held by the IS, asking Jordan to bring Sajida al-Rishawi, a female suicide bomber, to the Turkish border by sunset Thursday Mosul time, or the pilot would be killed.

Sajida al-Rishawi was convicted for her role in a series of bombings in the Jordanian capital of Amman in 2005 which killed around 60 people. The suicide bomber was captured and imprisoned as her suicide vest failed to detonate.

In the audio clip, the IS said if Sajida is handed over, the Japanese hostage would be released.

On Thursday, Jordanian authorities said they were willing to hand over the Iraqi suicide bomber if the Jordanian pilot is released.

In its statement, the Jordanian army asked the IS for a proof that the pilot, who was captured by the IS late last year after his plane crashed in Raqqah in Syria, is still alive.

Jordan is part of a U.S.-led coalition to fight the IS in Iraq and Syria. Endit