Fox News Journalists Freed

Kidnappers released Steve Centanni and Olaf Wiig in the Gaza Strip today. During their two week captivity, their captors forced them to convert to Islam at gunpoint.

"We were pushed down onto the dirt-covered concrete floor and we were forced to life face down with our handcuffs on," Centanni said.

"Olaf was in the same room with me. Our shoulders were wrenched back, very painful."

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."

Centanni's brother, Ken, spoke to FOX News directly after the news was released.

"It's just a tremendous amount of relief, overwhelming relief," he said.

Later Sunday, the two journalists made a joint appearance with Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas. Haniyeh, Centanni and Wiig sat in a circle of chairs at the Beach Hotel. Wiig was also accompanied by his wife, Anita McNaught.

The day had begun with promises by senior Palestinian officials that the two would be released in coming hours.

At the same time, before the journalists' release, a new video was released, showing Wiig and Centanni 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.

Lovely people. At least they got out alive.

Other Links to this Post

1. bRight & Early » Centanni and Wiig Freed! — August 27, 2006 @ 5:59 am

2. Right Truth — August 27, 2006 @ 7:34 am

3. Thespis Journal — August 27, 2006 @ 8:21 am

4. Pirate's Cove — August 27, 2006 @ 8:40 am