The Japanese government has no freshinformation on the three Japanese civilians who were taken hostagein Iraq last week, government spokesman Yasuo Fukuda said Tuesday.

Fukuda also told reporters he could not talk about the content of negotiations with the kidnappers, suggesting that efforts to talk with the armed group through mediators are ongoing.

According to Fukuda, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi instructed his cabinet ministers on Tuesday to continue making all-out efforts to get the three hostages freed.

The fate of the three Japanese civilians taken hostage by an armed group in Iraq remains unknown so far and their families are growing increasingly impatient.

Source: Xinhua