OSLO - A TV journalist who worked for the Al-Arabiya network in the Gaza Strip is seeking asylum in Norway, saying his family was threatened, Norwegian state broadcaster NRK reported.

We came to Norway because I, my wife and children received death threats, and we decided to leave Gaza, where I could not continue as a free-speaking journalist, Saif el-Deen Shahin was quoted as saying in a report on NRK's Web site.

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Norway's Foreign Ministry could not confirm yesterday that Shahin had applied for asylum.

Hamas had accused Al-Arabiya of bias in favor of its rival, Fatah, in the months leading up to its takeover of Gaza.

Shahin said only about 10 percent of journalists in Gaza dare to carry out their profession. The rest have stopped working because of pressure and fears for their lives, Shahin was quoted as saying in the report posted Thursday.

The report said Shahin was beaten up and threatened after describing the kidnappers of BBC reporter Alan Johnston as criminals.

Naser al-Sarami, head of media at Al-Arabiya, said they were not aware of any threats made against the correspondent.