Posted on 08/14/2006 10:27:48 AM PDT by slowhand520
GAZA (Reuters) - Palestinian gunmen kidnapped two foreign journalists working for the Fox News television channel in Gaza on Monday, a witness said.
The witness, a Palestinian who worked with the two journalists, said one of them, a producer, was an American, and the other, whose nationality he did not know, was a cameraman.
The Fox News bureau in Jerusalem said it was checking the report.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the abduction.
The witness said two vehicles blocked the journalist's transmission truck in the center of Gaza City and a masked man put a gun to the bodyguard's head, forcing him to the ground.
The kidnappers then sped away with the two journalists.
Similar incidents in the past in Gaza have ended with the release, usually within hours, of kidnapped foreign journalists or aid workers.
Many of the abductions were carried out by Palestinians pressing a grievance against the Palestinian government or its security forces
Please add me to this ping list.
Thank you.
Day 3 (Wednesday ) Updates from mediabistro.com:
Sorry, but there's not much here...
8:27 PM FNCers Kidnapped In Gaza: Net Breaks Silence; Hume & Smith Update Viewers Fox News Channel has stayed virtually silent about the kidnapping of Steve Centanni and Olaf Wiig since it occurred Monday evening. It mentioned the situation just once yesterday, with a short update on the Fox Report. The self-imposed silent streak ended tonight on Special Report, when Brit Hume read this long voiceover:"Two days after our Fox News colleagues, national correspondent Steve Centanni and freelance cameraman Olaf Wiig, a New Zealander, were kidnapped in Gaza, we still have no word on their whereabouts or condition. Steve and Olaf were taken at gunpoint from their vehicle near the Palestinian security headquarters on Monday. No one has claimed responsibility. In fact, known militant groups in the area have specifically disclaimed responsibility and no demands have been made in exchange for their release," Hume said, emphasizing the no's. "Palestinians have set up roadblocks in Gaza and are searching cars in order to find the newsmen or their captors. Palestinian authorities say they are focusing their efforts to find the two hostages in Gaza City.
New Zealand's ambassador in the region met today with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas to discuss the situation and Fox News Middle East correspondent Jennifer Griffin and bureau chief Eli Fastman have been working with Palestinian authorities in Gaza in an ongoing effort to find the two men. And the Organization Of The Islamic Conference headquartered in Saudi Arabia has condemned the kidnapping, saying it does not serve the national interest of the Palestinian people, and called for the immediate release of Steve and Olaf."
Shep Smith read the exact same script one hour later. And a shorter version of the information was the first item on Harris Faulkner's news update during The O'Reilly Factor...
8:27 PM FNCers Kidnapped In Gaza: Wiig's Family Is Grateful For Support; Requests Privacy
"The family of Olaf Wiig... have issued a statement saying they are grateful for all the support they have received," NZCity reports. "But in the face of a difficult and tiring week, the family wants to spend some private time together away from the glare of the media," so the constant interviews are over, at least for now.
"We are deeply grateful for the care that is being extended to us and for the Prime Minister’s direct call to us," Reverend Roger Wiig said. "We would also like to thank all those who are working to help get Olaf and Steve released, and we are thankful to have New Zealand diplomats on site." Wiig also said Fox News has provided strong support for his family.
Also: NZ Prime Minister Helen Clark's statement after speaking with Abbas...
5:50 PM FNCers Kidnapped In Gaza: U.S. State Dept. "Calls For Their Immediate Release"
AP update: "In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Julie Reside said the U.S. is working with Palestinian officials and called for the journalists to be released immediately."
"The U.S. government strongly condemns the kidnapping of these individuals and calls for their immediate release," she said.
Reside also said the U.S. consulate is also in close communication with Palestinian security services, and "is doing everything possible to bring about their safe recovery."
Are you still praying?
If demands are being made on FOX , I'm concerned that the camera man may be in big trouble. I pray they find them soon.
Indeed! Thanks for the ping! I'm wondering about Centanni's family. Several stories on Olaf's. I also wonder if Bush has weighed in. Not that it would matter I suppose...
so sad ... I am and will keep praying!!
Praying like crazy...
I know I should already know this..but does Steve have a wife or kids?
It doesn't say on his fox news bio page and sorry, I don't have time to look it up. The only mention of family that I can think of has been his brother.
Let me know what you find out.
I read that he had 7 brothers and 1 sister that live on the west coast and that they were a close knit family. They vacationed together in Canada earlier this year. No mention of a wife or kids.
Shep just did an update on Greta. He seemed really nervous talking about it, but he did say that they had reason to believe that they have been harmed in any way. Let's hope that this is true. I think that is what I heard him say anyway--I was freeping and didn't realize that he was talking about it until the tail end of the report
Shep also did seem to be very careful with his words in discussing this.
It sounds to me like they don't have any leads at all. They don't seem to know anything except that they were taken away at gunpoint. No one has come forward or demanded anything, or anything! Nothing. That's not good and I'm really concerned about their safety.
Your assessment is correct .. FReepers would not consider this funny.
Big difference between FReepers and people who just post to disrupt or annoy or deceive!
ROTF!
I am still praying..
I have no rational explanation, but I am encouraged that Jennifer Griffin has been sent to Gaza.
(I saw a short clip of her doing the kiss-kiss/cheek-cheek thing while Brit was talking.)
As for Brit, thank God he is back. I hate it when stories break and he is not there.
This is simply horrible. It almost seems as if they took them to hold FOX hostage in their reporting. Wasn't the day of the kidnapping the day that FOX was showing "Pallywood" scenes, as well as pointing out some of the discrepancies of Hisballless-wood?
http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/488120/816718
TVNZ
Still no sign of kidnapped pair
Aug 18, 2006
There has still been no sign of two journalists, including a New Zealander, kidnapped in the Gaza Strip three days ago.
New Zealand cameraman Olaf Wiig and American reporter Steve Centanni were snatched by gunmen while on assignment in Gaza City.
New Zealand diplomats trying to find out what happened to the pair, have so far had no success.
Despite that, family, friends and supporters remain optimistic the pair will be returned.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the Palestinian Authority has been trying to confirm initial information about who might have taken the pair.
Ministry spokesperson John Larkindale says senior New Zealand diplomat Peter Ryder, who can speak Arabic, is heading to the region. He will replace the ambassador to Israel, Jan Henderson, who has been in the centre of diplomatic efforts in Gaza to find the journalists.
The Auckland student held hostage for months in Iraq has added his voice to those calling for Wiig's release.
Harmeet Sooden has released a statement of support, imploring those holding the two men to free them immediately and unharmed.
Sooden says he made the statement to possibly facilitate a release, and also in the greater context of what is happening in the Palestinian Territories.
Prime Minister Helen Clark says she is confident, having spoken to the Palestinian president, that no stone is being left unturned in the search for Wiig and his colleague.
Please ad me to the ping list. Thank you
No. IMHO, that translation jumps to negative conclusions and is disrespectful to her. It is highly possible, and most likely, that Wiig's wife chose her words very carefully, knowing full well that she would be quoted, in hopes that the kidnappers would read her words and reconsider bringing any harm to her husband and Steve Centanni. If I were in her shoes, I'd have said the same thing.
Would you think it wise of her to say, "my husband and the American are enemies of Palestinians. There is a very good reason for these two men to be killed." That'd be dumb, right?
I agree Chena.
I appreciate that. Thank you.
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