Tikrit, Oct 29, SPA -- A body has been found near the Iraqitown of Tikrit, but it was not that of a Japanese hostage,the Interior Ministry said Friday. Spokesman Col. Adnan Abdul-Rahman said residents found abody in the Tikrit area on Thursday, adding the body turnedout to be an Iraqi man. The victim's family received the body on Friday, he said.Abdul-Rahman said he thought it had been a criminal action,but had no further details. The Japanese government has been stirred up over mediareports that a bullet-riddled Asian body had been foundnear Tikrit. Insurgents threatened on Tuesday to kill hostage Shosei Koda within 48 hours unless Japan withdrew its troops from Iraq. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi had firmly rejected that demand, saying he would not give in to terrorists. The deadline apparently passed early Friday with no wordon Koda's condition. In Tokyo, officials earlier had gathered at Koizumi'soffice for an emergency meeting after the China NewsService ran a report that the body was believed to beAsian.--SPA1347 Local Time 1047 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/214092