Kidnapped Journalists Appear on Al-jazeera

Two Fox News journalists kidnapped nine days ago in Gaza appeared today on a videotape broadcast on al-Jazeera appealing for help to gain their release.

Steve Centanni, a 60-year-old American, and his cameraman, New Zealander Olaf Wiig, 36, said they were being treated well by their captors.

A previously unknown militant group, the Holy Jihad Brigades, claimed responsibility for their abduction, according to news agency Ramattan.

The group demanded the release of Muslim prisoners from US jails within 72 hours without specifying what might happen if the request was not met.

"We're in fairly good condition, we're alive and well, in fairly good health," Centanni said on the tape, in which the men were shown sitting on a mat.

"Our captors have treated us well. Just want to let you know I'm here and alive and give my love to my family and friends and ask you to do anything you can to try to help us get out of here."

Wigg added: "If you could apply any pressure on the local government here in Gaza and the West Bank that would be much appreciated by Steve and myself."

Today's tape, broadcast on Arabic news channel al-Jazeera, was the first news of the journalists since they were abducted by gunmen from their TV van on August 14.

The Committee to Protect Journalists executive director, Joel Simon, said he was relieved that Centanni and Wiig were "alive and appear in good health".

But Mr Simon added: "We remain deeply concerned that these professional journalists who were simply doing their jobs, continue to be held against their will. We urge those holding them to set them free."