Peruvian gov't vows to seek release of photographer kidnapped in Gaza

The Peruvian government said on Tuesday that it would make all possible efforts to free Jaime Razuri, a Peruvian Agence France-Presse (AFP) photographer kidnapped in Gaza on Jan. 1.

The 50-year-old Razuri was kidnapped by an armed group that made no demands and left no clue to his whereabouts. Both Palestinian and Israeli authorities have offered to help find him.

Peruvian Foreign Minister Jose Garcia Belaunde told reporters in Lima that he was in constant contact with the Palestinian authorities both in Lima and in the Middle East.

The Foreign Ministry said it had ordered consular officials in Israel to go to Gaza to help locate Razuri.

Luis Cisneros, president of the Peru Foreign Press Association, who also works for AFP, said he did not know who the kidnappers were, but said that Palestine was not as violent as Iraq.

"There is a conflict between Palestinians in Gaza, but there is no civil war," he said. "We are sure that... this will be resolved peacefully and that Razuri will be freed. There is no precedent... for any other outcome."

Cisneros called on the kidnappers to respect their hostage, and called on the Peruvian government to redouble its efforts to free Razuri.

He also pointed out that of the 31 foreigners who have been kidnapped in the Middle East in the last 18 months, 20 of the journalists, were all freed, mostly within hours. The worst case, of two Fox News correspondents, took 13 days.

Source: Xinhua