NZ diplomat to take charge of Gaza kidnap negotiations

Olaf Wiig and Anita McNaught on the day of their wedding.

Senior Wellington diplomat Peter Rider is due to arrive in the Middle East tonight to lead efforts to secure the release of kidnapped New Zealander Olaf Wiig.

Freelance Fox cameraman Wiig, 36, the partner of broadcaster Anita McNaught, was kidnapped along with Fox's American reporter Steve Centanni, 60, on Monday from their vehicle near the Palestinian security service headquarters.

Mr Rider, an Arabic speaker, has been sent from Wellington to take over the diplomatic role in the crisis from New Zealand's Turkish ambassador, Jan Henderson, who is scheduled to return home from her Ankara posting.

There was little to report in the way of developments today, said Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokeswoman Helen Tunnah.

New Zealand consul in Cairo, Brian Chambers, had been working with Ms Henderson in Jerusalem and Gaza over the past few days and would stay on and brief Mr Rider, she said.

"They will continue meetings with Palestinian officials, the British and Americans."

There was still speculation about who kidnapped the pair but no-one had yet claimed responsibility, Ms Tunnah said.

Journalist Fares Akram, who worked in the same Gaza building as Wiig, said he thought Palestinian authorities had some information on Wiig's captors and their whereabouts.

Prime Minister Helen Clark yesterday said she had spoken to Palestinian National Authority president Mahmoud Abbas about the kidnapping.

She said Mr Abbas had instructed Palestinian Authority security to work to locate the kidnappers and was doing his best to secure their release.

"President Abbas was very fulsome in what he said. His parting comment was 'these people are our guests and we will do whatever we can to help'."

McNaught remains in Gaza looking for her husband.

- NZPA