RAMALLAH, West Bank, Sept 28 (AFP) - Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has ordered his security services to help secure the release of a CNN producer kidnapped by Palestinian militants in Gaza, his office said Tuesday.
"As soon as he was informed of Riad Ali's abduction, president Arafat ordered the security services to do everything they can to ensure he is quickly freed safe and sound," an official told AFP.
"The president is personally following up this matter."
Gunmen abducted Ali, an Israeli Arab, from a car in Gaza City's central al-Rimal neighborhood Monday night, whisking him away to an unknown destination.
It was the first time a journalist had been kidnapped in the Palestinian territories. No-one has yet claimed responsibility.
Disgruntled former security men and militants angry at alleged graft in the Palestinian leadership had abducted several Palestinian officials last summer.
Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Arafat was in a position to help free Ali, saying the kidnapping demonstrated the extent of chaos in the occupied Palestinian territories.
"I don't known exactly to what extent Arafat has control over killers in the territories, but it's obvious that he deliberately chose to sow anarchy and that if he wanted to, he could prevent such kidnappings and allow for Riad Ali's liberation," he told public radio.
"This abduction shows that the situation is further deteriorating in the territories where incredible anarchy rules," he added.
"I hope the foreign media will realize at last that Palestinian organizations for which they have so much sympathy and patience are in fact organizations of killers," said Olmert.
In Gaza City, a security official told AFP that he had "received firm instructions from president Arafat to help release the hostage and make the culprits answer for this reprehensible crime".
"Security services are doing their utmost to find out who is behind the abduction and try to gather information and evidence on possible suspects," he added.