Tokyo seeks alternatives for freeing 2 hostages

Government receives offers of help from expert on Islamic law plus a former captive

Japan scrambled on Thursday for ways to free two hostages held by the Islamic State group, as two people came forward with offers to negotiate their release.

In a video message posted online, militants threatened to kill 47-year-old freelance journalist Kenji Goto and 42-year-old private security contractor Haruna Yukawa within 72 hours unless they receive $200 million. Based on the video's release time, that deadline would expire sometime on Friday.