Al Qaeda elements in kidnap, says expert

Olaf Wiig (left) and Steve Centanni say in the video they are in 'fairly good health' and appeal for help to secure their release. Picture / Reuters

The kidnapping of New Zealand cameraman Olaf Wiig in Gaza City has taken an unprecedented twist that points to a possible al Qaeda presence in the Palestinian territories, says a Middle East politics expert.

Massey University professor Nigel Parsons was commenting on a video, released by the unknown group the Holy Jihad Brigades, showing Mr Wiig and fellow captive Steve Centanni alive and well.

The video, released overnight Wednesday, is the first claim of responsibility since the men were taken hostage at gunpoint on August 14.

In a statement, the group called for the release of all Muslim prisoners from American jails in exchange for the hostages, and a deadline that expires at 9pm on Saturday (NZ time).

The US State Department has said it does not negotiate with militant groups.

The video bore many hallmarks of those issued by militant hostage-takers in Iraq and the statement also mirrored their religious rhetoric.

Professor Parsons said the video "lends support to the view that there is an al Qaeda presence in Palestine".

"[This kidnapping] is very much a departure from past practice in Palestine. Not only have we got an unknown group - even the Palestinian press, in Arabic, is reporting them as previously unknown - it's unprecedented for the victims to be held for this long, and for a group in Palestine to make claims on a party other than Israel or the Palestinian Authority."

He said although this did not bode well for the victims - many Westerners abducted in Iraq have been killed - it didn't mean "the writing was on the wall".

"They haven't made any death threats, we didn't see the kidnappers on the video, and we didn't hear them speak so there's no way of knowing whether they're Palestinian.

"I don't think there's cause for total gloom yet. But for Palestine, this is a more serious abduction than any that has preceded it."

That the group was unknown complicated the recovery process and there was a possibility local authorities had no idea how to contact the abductors, Professor Parsons said.

Meanwhile, New Zealand has stepped up diplomatic efforts to secure Mr Wiig's release.

A senior police officer, Inspector Rob Abbott, was sent to the region yesterday to work alongside two New Zealand diplomats and help to liaise with local law enforcement officers.

Family and friends, including Mr Wiig's wife, Anita McNaught, repeated pleas for Mr Wiig's release, but were relieved to see him unharmed and speaking freely.

"It's really good to see him," said twin brother Sven Wiig.

He said family members were supporting one another - his father, Roger, was with him in Wellington - and they were waiting anxiously for a safe release.

Prime Minister Helen Clark said she was pleased the men appeared to be well, but "I remain deeply concerned for their safety".

The video showed both men sitting on a blanket and wearing tracksuits - not the clothes they were seized in.

Mr Wiig asked his family to apply political pressure to local government authorities in Gaza and the West Bank.

"To my family, I love you all. Please don't worry. I will do all the worrying for us."

The group's statement said: "If you implement our conditions we will implement our promise; otherwise you will have to wait, and God will be the judge."


Hostages in Gaza

More than a dozen Westerners have been kidnapped in Gaza in the past two years, at least seven since the Israeli withdrawal from the area last August.

Hostages in every case were released unharmed within days of being captured; some seized journalists were held for only a few hours.

Until now, demands have always been centred on local issues, not beyond the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The last major kidnapping in Gaza was when British aid worker Kate Burton and her parents were taken hostage in December last year. They were freed after 58 hours.


Kidnappers' demands

Extracts from the statement from the group holding the journalists.

'You have angered us and we are not among those who wilt when angered, but the fountains of Islam erupt within us.'

'Here we are giving you another chance, and God knows how many times we have: We will exchange the male and female Muslim prisoners in America's prisons with the prisoners we have. The result will be according to the action.'

'Release our prisoners that you have and we release what we have. It goes for everybody. Although the soul of one Muslim is more precious and dignified than a thousand Bushes, the exchange is between peers.'

'We will grant you 72 hours starting midnight tonight, in which you come together and consult each other. If you carry out our condition, we carry out our promise. Or you wait and we will wait with you.'