The International News Safety Institute expresses deep satisfaction and relief at the safe release of sound technician Alexandre Coelho Calado and reporter Guilherme Portanova of O Globo in Sao Paulo, Brazil, after they were kidnapped by the criminal organization known as PCC (Primeiro Comando Da Capital, First Command of the Capital).

At the same time, we express our concern over the safety of two Fox News journalists kidnapped in Gaza on Monday and appeal to their captors to release them immediately, safe and unharmed.

The Brazilians were abducted early on Saturday 12 August. Calado was released later the same day carrying a taped announcement that PCC wanted O Globo TV to broadcast if they wanted Portanova back alive.

INSI was contacted by O Globo for advice and we immediately put them in contact with AKE Group, a British-based security company who are experts in this field and with whom INSI works on safety training projects around the world.

O Globo broadcasted the message at midnight on Saturday. Portanova was released late on Sunday and is now safe at home with his family.

Unidentified gunmen in the Gaza Strip on Monday kidnapped Fox News reporter Steve Centanni, a US citizen, and cameraman Olaf Wiig, from New Zealand.

The Palestinian Journalists' Syndicate immediately appealed to President Mahmud Abbas to intervene to secure their release, calling the abduction "a cowardly act (that) harms the reputation of the Palestinian people and their cause to the world, especially among the major international media agencies."

"The Palestinian people are in dire need of these journalists who are their friends in this world," it said.

INSI is deeply concerned at the rising incidence of violent attacks on journalists around the globe. A record 146 news media staff died trying to do their jobs in 28 countries in 2005. At least 82 have died so far this year.

"Journalists must be free to report the news without fear for their safety," said INSI Director Rodney Pinder. "They threaten no one. They only want to go about their business of keeping the world informed.

"All of us -- authorities as well as those who are in conflict with authority -- depend on that news. We all suffer when violence and the threat of violence shut down honest reporting."

Greater safety measures should be taken by the news media in Brazil and elsewhere. Reporting on wars and other conflicts, including criminal activity, can never be completely safe, but sound professional safety training can help journalists and other support staff better guard themselves. Such training should be part of any journalist's skill sets.

INSI, a non-profit organisation dedicated to the safety of journalists covering conflict and other dangerous situations, is working with O Globo and others to provide safety training to 50 journalists and support staff in Rio de Janeiro later this year.

We have so far provided basic safety training free of cost to more than 500 journalists in 12 countries.

Any questions on this news release should be addressed to Rodney Pinder, email rodney.pinder@newssafety.com or tel. +44 7734 709 267

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