GAZA / WEST BANK: Kidnapped journalist Steve Centanni, a 60-year-old American, and New Zealand-born cameraman Olaf Wiig released by the Holy Jihad Brigades militants group

Militants in the Gaza Strip released two kidnapped journalists from the American Fox News Channel on Sunday (August 27) after forcing them at gunpoint to say in a videotape they had converted to Islam. Correspondent Steve Centanni, a 60-year-old American, and New Zealand-born cameraman Olaf Wiig, 36, were in a hotel in the Palestinian coastal strip after two weeks of captivity. A previously unknown group called the Holy Jihad Brigades had made a sweeping demand for the United States to free Muslim prisoners in exchange for the release of the men. The United States had rejected the demand. The men had an emotional reunion with colleagues inside a Gaza hotel, where they later met Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of the militant Hamas movement. In a short news conference, both men said they hoped their kidnapping would not scare the foreign media away from Gaza. "I hope this never scares a single journalist away from coming to Gaza to cover the story, the people are very beautiful, kind hearted loving people who the world need to know more about, and do not be discouraged, come and tell a story it is a wonderful story and I am just happy to be here and Thanks again for all your support", said Fox News corespondent, Steve Centanni. Centanni recalled the trauma of the ordeal, being held at one stage in a garage, and said he and Wiig were forced to convert to Islam at gunpoint. "I just want to add something very briefly, my biggest concern really is that as a result as what has happened to us foreign journalists will be discouraged from coming here and tell the story, and that would be a great tragedy for the people of Palestine and especially for the people of Gaza," Fox News cameraman, Olaf Wiig told Reporters. The two reporters were seized on Aug. 14 while working on a story in Gaza City. Their abduction was one of the longest-lasting of foreigners in Gaza in years. Videos of the captives released by the militants had borne all the hallmarks of hostage tapes shot by insurgents in Iraq. No arrests have been made. Palestinian officials from Hamas have previously suggested they were in contact with the kidnappers via third parties in Gaza. Hamas and other militant groups had condemned the abduction. In the videotape released earlier on Sunday, Centanni and Wiig were shown separately sitting cross-legged, reading statements announcing that they had converted to Islam. At times in the video they were wearing long Arab robes. The men left Gaza and arrived a short while ago in Israel.

ITN Source | August 27, 2006

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