Kidnapped Fox reporters "convert to Islam"

Gaza, Aug 27: Two kidnapped journalists for the American Fox News Channel appeared on a new videotape released by their captors today in the Gaza Strip, saying they had converted to Islam.

Palestinian Interior Minister Saeed Seyam said efforts were under way to secure the release of Fox correspondent Steve Centanni, a 60-year-old American, and New Zealand-born cameraman Olaf Wiig, 36, within hours.

Both journalists appeared to be in good health in the new video.

They were seized on August 14 by a previously unknown group called the Holy Jihad Brigades.

The two men were shown separately sitting cross-legged, reading statements announcing that they had converted to Islam. At times in the video they were wearing long Muslim robes.

''I changed my name to Khaled. I have embraced Islam and say the word Allah,'' Centanni said.

Wiig called on leaders of the West to stop ''hiding behind the 'I don't negotiate with terrorists' myth''.

Interior Minister Seyam of the governing militant movement Hamas expressed optimism the ordeal for the two reporters would soon be over.

''Efforts are under way with several parties to secure their release within the coming hours,'' he told Reuters.

The Holy Jihad Brigades claimed responsibility on Wednesday for the kidnapping and had warned the United States to free Muslim prisoners to prevent the captives facing unspecified consequences. The deadline expired yesterday.

The United States has said it will not make ''concessions to terrorists''.

A separate statement from the captors said: ''They chose Islam and that is a gift that God gives those whom he chooses.'' A videotape released on Wednesday showed the two men, dressed in tracksuits, sitting on a blanket in front of a black background.

They appeared fairly relaxed and in good health. Both said that they were fine and being treated well.

The kidnapping is the longest-lasting abduction of foreigners in the Palestinian coastal strip in more than a year.

The Hamas-led government has called for the men to be freed while several prominent militant groups in Gaza have denied involvement and also said the men should be freed.

Previous kidnappings of foreigners have usually ended after a few hours, or at most a few days, of captivity.

REUTERS