NEW YORK, Aug 27, 2006 (AFP) - Fox News television said it was "grateful" for the release Sunday of two of its reporters in the Gaza Strip, after a two-week hostage ordeal at the hands of Palestinian militants.

"We're very grateful for the safe return of Steve Centanni and Olaf Wiig and we'd like to thank governments and individuals throughout the world who aided in securing their release," FOX News Chairman and CEO, Roger Ailes said in a statement.

"We'd also like to thank our colleagues in the journalism community for their unwavering support.

"The entire international community is beginning to realize that journalists should never be hostages or pawns in world events. Their job is to tell the story of the world as it unfolds," the statement said.

Centanni, 60, and freelance cameraman Wiig, 36, from New Zealand, arrived at their beach front hotel in Gaza City Sunday to embraces from colleagues and were rushed inside by black-clad Palestinian security officials.

The two men spent 13 days in an abandoned garage in the lawless Gaza Strip as captives of the previously unknown Holy Jihad Brigades, which had demanded that all Muslim prisoners be freed from US jails.

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