AFP Photographer Jaime Razuri Freed In Gaza

Agence France-Presse photographer Jaime Razuri was seen smiling in pictures taken soon after his release Sunday from a week-long kidnapping ordeal in the Gaza Strip.

"I had no idea that they were going to free me until the moment they did," Razrui told the AFP. "They appeared and said 'wash your face, we're going to free you.'"

Palestinian security forces delivered Razuri to AFP representatives in Gaza City Sunday afternoon, and Razuri traveled to Israel soon after. Razuri told the AFP his abductors treated him well, providing him food and ensuring he was comfortable.

The abduction of foreigners, including journalists and aid workers, has become a recurring problem in the Palestinian-controlled Gaza Strip. Four unidentified gunmen abducted Razuri Jan. 1 outside the AFP office in Gaza City, where he was returning from an assignment.

Razuri is from Peru, where news of his kidnapping stirred diplomats, family members and fellow journalists to rally for his release. Photojournalists held demonstrations on behalf of Razuri last week in Lima, Paris and Gaza City.

In the last two years, most of the journalists abducted in Gaza have been released after one or two days. But recently, longer kidnappings have become more common. Razuri's kidnapping spanned seven days. In August, two TV journalists for Fox News were held by kidnappers in Gaza for two weeks.

Reporters Without Borders called for the Palestinian government to bring the kidnappers to justice. "This is the only way to finally put an end to this series of abductions," the press freedom group said in a statement Sunday. "So far, none of the people responsible for the abductions of six journalists in 2006 have been prosecuted. Letting this impunity continue will mean that other foreign journalists will be in danger of being kidnapped."

As usual, no information was released about what negotiations, if any, led to Razuri's release. Press freedom groups say political factions in Gaza use kidnappings to secure concessions from the Palestinian government, such as the release of prisoners. The fact that some journalists have been held for longer periods of time may signal a change in tactics on the part of the kidnappers or the government authorities.

AFP reported that Razuri spoke by phone to Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas and thanked him and others for working to secure his release.

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