A freelance war correspondent from Rochester was kidnapped in Syria six weeks ago, his family announced Wednesday, after concealing the story due to safety concerns.

James Foley, 39, a videographer working for Agence France-Presse, was last seen near the city of Idlib, a center in the year-long civil war that has claimed the lives of more than 60,000 Syrians.

"We want Jim to come safely home, or at least we need to speak with him to know he's OK," said James' father, John Foley, in a statement. "Jim is an objective journalist, and we appeal for the release of Jim unharmed. To the people who have Jim, please contact us so we can work together toward his release."

The family launched Facebook.com/FreeJamesFoley on Wednesday, in addition to a website, freejamesfoley.org, to draw attention to the case.

Foley made headlines last year when he was kidnapped in Libya by forces loyal to bygone dictator Muammar Gaddafi. Working for the Global Post at the time-an online publication he continued to produce for at the time of his abduction-he was released after six weeks.

He is the oldest of five children, according to the website, and has reported from the Middle East for the last five years.

"Prior to his work as a journalist, Jim helped empower disadvantaged individuals as a teacher and mentor assisting them in improving their lives," the website said.

According to AFP, Foley had provided the news organization with video footage the day before his abduction. Three other people were abducted at the time, including a driver and a translator who were released, and a fellow journalist whose identity was not revealed.

Syria is considered by the Committee to Protect Journalists as the most dangerous place to be a reporter. Twenty-eight of the 67 journalists killed worldwide last year were in Syria.

NBC foreign correspondent Richard Engel and his crew were kidnapped in Syria by government loyalists in December, which the network kept quiet out of concern for their safety. Engel escaped unharmed at a rebel checkpoint.

U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said she is working with the Foley family and seeking support from the State Department and the FBI.

"My thoughts and prayers are with the Foley family," Shaheen said in a statement Wednesday afternoon, "and I will continue to work closely with U.S. officials to do what we can to help bring him back home."

In a Facebook post, Habib Saleh, a member of the opposition Syrian National Coalition, called on the Free Syrian Army to free Mr. Foley.

"We call you all to search (for) journalist Mr. James Foley and help to release him in favor of his profession, family and human freedom," Saleh wrote.

Mike Byhoff, a video producer at vocativ.com, worked with Foley on a profile of a Libyan fighter who came to Syria and battled on the front lines in Aleppo for the rebels.

In an email, Byhoff described Foley as having "great energy, extremely positive, dedicated to his work. just an excellent journalist. I hope he's OK."

A petition for Foley's release is available at www.freejamesfoley.org/add-your-name-to-the-appeal/.

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Simon Rios may be reached at srios@newstote.com.