Kidnappers free Israeli Druze journalist Riad Ali of CNN

Reporters Without Borders welcomed the quick release of journalist and interpreter for US news network CNN, Riad Ali, snatched on 27 September in the centre of Gaza City, and released into the custody of Palestinian police the following day. The international press freedom organisation however urged the Palestinian National Authority to ensure an early and thorough investigation into the disturbing circumstances of the kidnapping to find and prosecute those responsible. The abduction of the CNN journalist had had the immediate effect of intimidating foreign and local journalists working in the Gaza Strip, it said. Palestinian police chief, Gen. Saed al-Ajez, said that Riad Ali had been handed over to him early in the evening of 28 September but he did not say by whom. Shortly before Ali's release, a video was made public of him in captivity saying that he had been kidnapped by the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades and that he and other Druze members of his family had done military service in the Israeli Army. He then called on fellow Druze not to serve in the Israeli Army, since their cause was the same as that of the Palestinians. The al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade had previously denied any involvement in the kidnapping of the CNN journalist condemning such acts as "harmful" to Palestinian cause and calling for Ali's release. --------------------------------------------------- 28.09.2004 - Reporters Without Borders urges release of CNN producer Riad Ali Reporters Without Borders today condemned the kidnapping yesterday in Gaza of journalist Riad Ali, an Israeli citizen of Arab Druze origin who works as an interpreter and producer for the US television news network CNN. Aged in his 30s, Ali was abducted by gunmen in the district of Rimal, in the centre of Gaza, while returning to his hotel with two US colleagues, CNN correspondent Ben Wedeman and photographer Mary Rogers. The identity of his abductors and their motives for taking him are unknown. Reporters Without Borders called for Ali's immediate and unconditional release and appealed to all the Palestinian factions and armed groups to respect the right of journalists to move about freely, whatever their nationality. The organisation also called on the Israeli army to rescind its decision to deny Israeli journalists access to the Gaza Strip. This decision was briefly enforced last year. Thereafter, Israeli journalists were again allowed into the Gaza Strip subject to their signing a statement absolving the Israeli army of any responsibility for their security. Wedemen, who witnessed Ali's abduction, said a Peugeot 504 car cut in front of their taxi and a young Palestinian with an AK-47 rifle got out: "He pulled out a revolver, pointed it at the windshield and asked which of us was Riad Ali. Riad calmly replied, 'I am' and the man told him to come with him." The gunmen were not masked, Wedeman said. Wedeman added: "We come to Gaza often. Lots of people know us and, on the whole, we have always been able to operate down there without any problem. It's a generally hospitable environment. I've never had to deal with men getting out of a car and pointing a gun at my head." The abductors have so far not made any demands known. The Hamas spokesmen in the Gaza Strip, Mounir Al-Masri, ruled out any possibility of his organisation being involved. "We condemn the kidnapping of journalists which is contrary to the interests of the Palestinians," he said. "We in the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade condemn the kidnapping of the journalist and consider its a mistaken effort that harms the Palestinian cause on all levels," the group said in a statement. "We call for his immediate release." Abdallah Al-Shami, a spokesman for Islamic Jihad, said the abduction "damages the reputation of the Palestinian people and their glorious intifada." In July, the Gaza Strip saw an unprecedented wave of abductions of foreigners and Palestinians against a backdrop of clashes between Palestinians and chaotic security. But, until now, Palestinian activist groups have tended not to bother foreign reporters or obstruct their work. Ali worked for the Israel's Channel One television from 1998 to 2000. In 2000, he was put in charge of reporting in the Occupied Territories, especially the Gaza Strip, where he carried out several interview with masked Palestinian militants. He was dismissed due to differences of opinion with Channel One's management in 2002 and was then hired by CNN.