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AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — A deadline set by Islamic State militants has passed -- and there's no word on the fate of a Jordanian pilot or his fellow hostage, a Japanese journalist.
The militants had threatened to kill the airman at sunset unless an al-Qaida prisoner was freed from death row in Jordan. But Jordan demanded proof that the pilot is still alive.
The imprisoned woman was involved in deadly Amman hotel bombings a decade ago.
A Jordanian government spokesman indicated this afternoon that any possible swap was on hold and said the imprisoned terrorist was still in Jordan. He said, "We want to see a proof of life of the Jordanian pilot and then we can talk about the exchange."
Meanwhile, the wife of the Japanese hostage -- who had kept silent up to now -- is making a desperate plea for her husband's life. And she revealed that she has exchanged emails with his captors -- receiving one in the past 20 hours that appears to be "their latest and final demand."
She says the governments of Jordan and Japan have to understand "that the fates of both men are in their hands."
%@AP Links
156-a-14-(Mohammad al-Momani (moh-HAH'-mahd ahl-moh-MAH'-nee), Jordanian government spokesman, at news conference)-"about the exchange"-Jordanian government spokesman Mohammad Al-Momani says Jordanian authorities want reassurance that if they release a death-row inmate, the Islamic State militants who are holding a Jordanian military pilot hostage will free him as promised. ((watch for dating)) (29 Jan 2015)
<<CUT *156 (01/29/15)££ 00:14 "about the exchange"
157-a-12-(Mohammad al-Momani (moh-HAH'-mahd ahl-moh-MAH'-nee), Jordanian government spokesman, at news conference)-"hostage as well"-Jordanian government spokesman Mohammad Al-Momani says Jordan is working with Japanese authorities on the release of the Japanese journalist held by Islamic State militants -- in addition to the Jordanian hostage. (29 Jan 2015)
<<CUT *157 (01/29/15)££ 00:12 "hostage as well"
APPHOTO NN101: Two posters with pictures of Jordanian pilot, Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh, who is held by Islamic State group militants, and Arabic that reads "we are all Muath," hang on a street pole, in front of the captured pilot's tribal gathering place, in Amman, Jordan, Thursday, Jan. 29 2015. A sunset deadline was approaching Thursday in the Middle East for Jordan to release an Iraqi prisoner or face the death of a captured Jordanian air force pilot, according to the latest threat purportedly issued by the Islamic State group. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser) (29 Jan 2015)
<<APPHOTO NN101 (01/29/15)££
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