Richard Tafoya
Aug 14th, 2006, 08:31 PM
LA TIMES:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-081406fox,0,7143534.story?coll=la-home-headlines
A Fox News correspondent and his cameraman were kidnapped Monday in Gaza by Palestinian gunmen who ambushed their vehicle, a spokeswoman for the cable news network confirmed.
Washington-based correspondent Steve Centanni, 60, and freelance cameraman Olaf Wiig, a New Zealand native, were in a parked television transmission van in the center of Gaza City, about to head to their usual live spot location when two vehicles blocked them in.
A masked man held a gun to their bodyguard, forcing him to the ground, and kidnapped Centanni and Wiig, as well as their translator, who was later released.
Fox News declined to comment on the abduction, but the network's Jerusalem-based correspondent, Jennifer Griffin, provided brief updates to viewers about the situation throughout the day.
"Right now the network is trying to arrange their safe release," she said at 2 p.m. PDT.
In an e-mail to the newsroom, John Moody, senior vice president for news editorial, confirmed the kidnapping.
"The rumors are true: two of our employees have been abducted in Gaza," he wrote. "We will report this fact via our Israel correspondents. Do NOT do any other segments on it. Do not book guests on this topic. Do not comment officially and of course, not on the air, about it. DO pray for their release. I will keep you posted."
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-081406fox,0,7143534.story?coll=la-home-headlines
A Fox News correspondent and his cameraman were kidnapped Monday in Gaza by Palestinian gunmen who ambushed their vehicle, a spokeswoman for the cable news network confirmed.
Washington-based correspondent Steve Centanni, 60, and freelance cameraman Olaf Wiig, a New Zealand native, were in a parked television transmission van in the center of Gaza City, about to head to their usual live spot location when two vehicles blocked them in.
A masked man held a gun to their bodyguard, forcing him to the ground, and kidnapped Centanni and Wiig, as well as their translator, who was later released.
Fox News declined to comment on the abduction, but the network's Jerusalem-based correspondent, Jennifer Griffin, provided brief updates to viewers about the situation throughout the day.
"Right now the network is trying to arrange their safe release," she said at 2 p.m. PDT.
In an e-mail to the newsroom, John Moody, senior vice president for news editorial, confirmed the kidnapping.
"The rumors are true: two of our employees have been abducted in Gaza," he wrote. "We will report this fact via our Israel correspondents. Do NOT do any other segments on it. Do not book guests on this topic. Do not comment officially and of course, not on the air, about it. DO pray for their release. I will keep you posted."