Group Claims Kidnap Of Fox Journalists

(CBS/AP)  For the first time since they were kidnapped more than a week ago, a Fox News reporter and cameraman were seen in a video released Wednesday by a previously unknown Palestinian group. A Palestinian news agency said the kidnappers are demanding the release of Muslim prisoners in U.S. jails within 72 hours.

In the footage, American correspondent Steve Centanni, 60, of Washington, D.C., and cameraman Olaf Wiig, 36, of New Zealand, said they were being cared for and appealed for help in winning their release. The footage was the first sign of the journalists since they were captured Aug. 14 from their TV van in Gaza City.

"Our captors are treating us well," Centanni said.

"So, just want to let you know I am here and alive and give my love to my family and friends and ask to do anything you can to try to help us get out of here," he added.

A written statement accompanying the video was issued by a group called the Holy Jihad Brigades. The statement railed against the U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

"The powers of evil are united in waging wars against Islam and their people," it said.

It marked the first time a militant group in Gaza made demands on a foreign country other than Israel, which was not directly mentioned in the statement.

The Bush administration isn't commenting on the Palestinian group's demands. The kidnappers want Muslim prisoners in U.S. jails released in exchange for the safe return of Centanni and Wiig, CBS Radio News correspondent Charlie D'Agata reports.

The State Department said flat out that it doesn't "make concessions to terrorists." A spokesman said the administration is continuing to urge the men be released "without conditions."

Local militant groups have routinely tried to limit the conflict to a fight between Palestinians and Israel, hoping not to jeopardize international support for the Palestinian cause. All the major Palestinian militant groups condemned the kidnapping and denied involvement.

It was unclear whether a group from outside Gaza could be involved. Palestinian and Israeli officials have previously said al Qaeda was trying to infiltrate into Gaza from Egypt.

The militants' statement was peppered with verses from the Koran and written in a literary, poetic style — a sharp departure from the terse statements usually issued by Palestinian militant groups.

The video and the accompanying statement were first delivered to the Palestinian news agency Ramattan. The Associated Press obtained copies of both.

The statement demanded 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.

Initially, Ramattan reported that the kidnappers demanded the release of Palestinian prisoners. But no such demand was contained in their statement.

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[lochlan-2009]

Never stated nor do I believe kidnapping ever is justified.

[ronniehm]

Lochlan, you should have just said you hope they come home safely. To suggest that kidnapping is justified because they work for Fox News shows that you have the kind of character you claim to hate. And wgrasse, without a shadow of a doubt, you should check your facts.

[lochlan-2009]

wgrasse, first of all the kidnappers are not Hezbollah. Secondly, "do this to unarmed U.S. citizens" you mean like we and Israel have done to them a hundred times over, do we need to be "erased" to or are we special in your line of thought? Sounds hypocritical and ignorant, did you vote for Bush?. Truth be told, Fox News isn't even news, it's the main voice of the Bush Propaganda machine. How many innocent Palestinians, Iraqies and Lebanese civilians have been murdered by this Administrations policies? That said, I do hope for these two mens families sake that they are returned safely and unharmed. We don't need anymore blood shed in the region than they already have.

[becoatwr]

Join others at listenministries.com as we pray for the release of these two men.

[iam810461]

I really think it's a terrible news to me. I hope they can get back to home as soon as possible. God bless!

[wgrasse]

This proves, without a shadow of a doubt, that the Hezbollah are just like Taliban in their ways and means. If they are going to do this to unarmed U.S. citizens, then they need to be elevated to the list of those that need to be erased, like the Taliban. Any form of sympathy gained by the Lebanese just went right out the window.