Family of Jordanian pilot held by Islamic State demands word
AMMAN - Worried relatives of a Jordanian fighter pilot have asked their government be more open about negotiations for his release, after a second Islamic State group hostage was shown beheaded in a video purportedly from the militants.
The fates of the pilot, Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh, and Japanese journalist Kenji Goto, previously had been linked. The video of the beheading made no mention of the pilot, raising fears for his life.
An uncle of the pilot, Yassin Rawashda, said early Sunday that "we want the government to tell us the truth." He says the family also wants to know which direction negotiations are headed.
Jordan is reportedly conducting indirect, behind-the-scenes negotiations through tribal leaders in neighboring Iraq. The Islamic State group holds about a third of Iraq and Syria.
