Fox news journalists just now RELEASED...

[Stephanie]

I'ts on right now my time.....2:27am Sunday


Sunday, August 27, 2006


GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Two FOX News journalists were released Sunday, nearly two weeks after being seized by militants, ending the longest-running drama involving foreign hostages in the Gaza Strip.

The day had begun with promises by senior Palestinian officials that Fox cameraman Olaf Wiig, 36, and correspondent Steve Centanni, 60, would be released in coming hours.

At the same time, the kidnappers released a new video, showing the hostages dressed in beige Arab-style robes. Wiig, of New Zealand, delivered an anti-Western speech, his face expressionless and his tone halting. The kidnappers claimed both men had converted to Islam.

Several hours later, the two men were dropped off at Gaza City's Beach Hotel. Now in Western-style clothing, Centanni and Wiig quickly walked through the lobby and rushed upstairs. A tearful Centanni briefly embraced a Palestinian journalist. Wiig briefly turned and appeared to yell at Palestinian security guards before heading upstairs.

The journalists were seized in Gaza City on Aug. 14.

Their captors, a previously unknown group calling itself the Holy Jihad Brigades, had demanded the release of all Muslims imprisoned by the U.S. It was not immediately clear whether the kidnappers received anything in return for freeing the journalists.

It also remained unclear whether the kidnappers were local militants, either with ties to Hamas or the rival Fatah movement, or sneaked into Gaza from outside. However, some Palestinian security officials said Sunday there were growing suspicions that the kidnappers were locals.

In the past two years, Palestinian militants have seized more than two dozen foreigners, usually to settle personal scores, but released them unharmed within hours. The holding of the Fox journalists had been the longest.

In the video released earlier Sunday, Wiig is seen sitting cross-legged on the floor and reading from crumpled notes. In the past, foreign hostages held in Iraq have said their captors coerced them into making statements.

In another segment, Centanni said he has converted to Islam and raised his index finger in an oath of allegiance to the religion.(they are saying they said this, just so they could be released..
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,210645,00.html

 

[Adam's Apple]

Great news indeed that they have been released with their heads intact.

 

[Avatar4321]

Yeah im surprised they are still alive. Im glad they are though. Maybe the terrorists realized that if they keep killing media people the media wont treat them so nicely.

 

[Stephanie]

Yeah im surprised they are still alive. Im glad they are though. Maybe the terrorists realized that if they keep killing media people the media wont treat them so nicely.

That what you said Avatar.
Or the kidnappers got taken behind the woodshed by the semisane palestinians who know President Bush was in office, and they didn't want their asses kicked, as it should be....

 

[Bonnie]

Great news indeed that they have been released with their heads intact.

Yes!! I was worried that might not happen. Im very happy for them, and their families

 

[Annie]

Yes!! I was worried that might not happen. Im very happy for them, and their families

I hope for their sakes, they weren't practicing Christians, I don't think I could have converted to Islam, even for 'pretend.' If I did, I'm not sure how I would be able to deal with it afterwards.

 

[theHawk]

They said they were held at gunpoint and forced to covert to Islam. :ali:

Both of the men were forced to convert to Islam at gunpoint, Centanni said.

"We were forced to convert to Islam at gunpoint," Centanni told FOX News. "Don't get me wrong here. I have the highest respect for Islam, and I learned a lot of good things about it, but it was something we felt we had to do because they had the guns, and we didn't know what the hell was going on."

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,210645,00.html

 

[-Cp]

They said they were held at gunpoint and forced to covert to Islam. :ali:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,210645,00.html

That's not at all different to what'll happen to Christians in the last days... They'll be forced into dying for Christ - i.e. denounce him as their Lord and Savior or be executed...

 

[Hagbard Celine]

That's not at all different to what'll happen to Christians in the last days... They'll be forced into dying for Christ - i.e. denounce him as their Lord and Savior or be executed...

Mom? Is that you?