Gaza hostage wife in new appeal

Ismail Haniya expressed his solidarity with Olaf Wiig's wife

The wife of a journalist seized in the Gaza Strip has issued a fresh plea for him and his colleague to be freed.

Anita McNaught made the plea before meeting Palestinian PM Ismail Haniya.

A video of Olaf Wiig and his colleague Steve Centanni, of US channel Fox News, was shown on Wednesday. They were seized on 14 August in Gaza City.

A previously unknown group says it is holding them and has demanded the release of "Muslim prisoners" in the US. The US rejected the demands.

Before meeting Mr Haniya, Ms McNaught told the hostage-takers that her husband, a cameraman from New Zealand, and Mr Centanni were not their enemies.

"Olaf and Steve have always worked for the interests of the Palestinian people. They came here to support you by telling your stories," she said in a statement.

It has long been the US policy not to negotiate with terrorists. This is one thing that we did get right Nick, Rochester, NY Your views: Should you ever negotiate with kidnappers?

"I do not question that you who are holding them have suffered greatly - as everyone in Gaza, in the Palestinian territories is suffering - but these two men are not responsible for the injustices you speak of, and should not be punished for them.

"You also have families and wives. People should not be kept from their families. In the name of the Muslim values and traditions you so strongly uphold, these two men are your guests. We all desire a peaceful resolution - for us and for you. We want our men to come home safe."

'Total rejection'

Mr Haniya, of the militant group and ruling party Hamas, said the abductions went against the values of the Palestinian people.

The journalists said they had been well treated

"We express our total rejection to the style of kidnapping. It contradicts the traditions, the values and the morals of our people," he told reporters.

"The Palestinian people have always limited their struggle to the fight against the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land," he added.

The deadline set by the kidnappers, who call themselves the Holy Jihad Brigades, for their demands to be met is midday (0900 GMT) on Saturday.

In the video, the two men said they were fine and being treated well.

The two journalists were seized from their vehicle near the Palestinian security services' headquarters in Gaza City.