Fox Reporters Kidnapped By Palestinian Group
Steve Centanni
Olaf Wiig
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip ” Video footage of two kidnapped FOX News journalists was released by a previously unheard of Palestinian group Wednesday along with a statement demanding the release of of Muslim prisoners in U.S. jails within 72 hours in exchange for the men.
In the video, American correspondent Steve Centanni, 60, and cameraman Olaf Wiig, 36, of New Zealand, make statements about their condition and appealed for help in winning their release.
The footage, which was released in Gaza to the Arab TV station Al Jazeera via the Palestinian news agency Ramattan, was the first sign of the journalists since they were kidnapped Aug. 14 from their TV van in Gaza City.
The statement issued by the Holy Jihad Brigades — the first by a Palestinian group in Gaza that made demands on a foreign country other than Israel — demanded that Muslim prisoners in U.S. jails be released within three days in exchange for Centanni and Wiig. The group did not say what would happen if the deadline passed unanswered.
“We are going to exchange the Muslim female and male prisoners in American jails in return for the prisoners that we have. We are going to give you 72 hours, beginning midnight tonight, to take your decision,” the statement said. “If you implement and meet our condition, we will fulfill our promise. If not, wait, and we are going to wait with you.”
I am not sure how promising this video is, but my thoughts and prayers are with their families.
August 23, 2006 - 09:14 AM on August 23rd, 2006
Unfortunate for these guys, but thats a risky business to be in. Hopefully they will end up getting released anyway, even they must know that their demands will not be met.