Kidnapped Gaza journalists ask for help
Steve Centanni and Olaf Wiig were taken hostage on August 14th
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Wednesday, 23, Aug 2006 04:25
Two journalists kidnapped in the Gaza Strip have appeared on video asking for their governments to help them return home.
American Fox News correspondent Steve Centanni, 60, and New Zealand freelance cameraman Olaf Wiig, 36, have both been shown in a video broadcast on Arabic TV station al-Jazeera.
The men both look healthy and can be heard telling their families they are being treated well.
Mr Centanni and Mr Wiig were taken hostage on August 14th in Gaza City and are being held by a group calling themselves the Holy Jihad Brigades.
A statement from the previously-unknown Palestinian group was read out on al-Jazeera, in which they demanded that all Muslim prisoners in US jails were released in exchange for the safe return of the two western hostages.
"We now tell you this is the chance we give you. God knows how often this kind of chance can be repeated," the statement read.
"In exchange for the release of the Muslim prisoners, males and females in the prisons of America, with our prisoners. Release our prisoners and we will do the same.
"This applies to all without exception. And every Muslim is more cherished and more generous than a 1,000 [US president George] Bushes. But this is a trade-off of equals.
"We will grant you 72 hours, that starts as of noon today during which you can look into this and if you carry out our condition we will carry out our promise, or else wait and we will wait with you and it will be in God's hands."
It was not detailed what the group were planning to do with their hostages if their demands were not met, but it is believed that the prisoners referred to were either those held in Iraq or Guantanamo Bay.
In the video itself, Mr Centanni says: "I am well and I receive food every day".
He added: "Our captors are treating us well.
"I just wanted to let you know that I'm here and I'm alive and give my love to my family and friends I'd ask you to do anything you can to get us out of here."
Mr Wiig added: "If you could apply any political pressure on the government here in Gaza and elsewhere that would be much appreciated, although I know you will already be doing that.
"To my family, I love you and don't worry. I'll do all the worrying for us."
Today's demand by the kidnappers is the first time a country other than Israel has been the focus of such statements.