Saudi call for BBC man's release

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/6508499.stm

Version 0 of 1.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal has condemned the apparent kidnapping of the BBC's Gaza correspondent, Alan Johnston.

Nobody could approve of the abduction of a man who was only doing his job, Prince Saud said, adding that he hoped Mr Johnston would soon be released.

The BBC correspondent went missing on his way home from work in Gaza.

On Monday, there were events in London and Gaza to mark two weeks since Mr Johnston was last seen.

His is widely believed to have been kidnapped but no demands have been made public.

Prince Saud made his comments at the end of a two-day Arab summit in the Saudi capital, Riyadh.

"Certainly this is not something that anybody, anybody would approve of," he said. "This man was doing his job and we hope that he will be released."

Experienced reporter

There have been numerous protests in Gaza and many international calls for Mr Johnston's release.

HAVE YOUR SAY Alan is one of the kindest, gentlest, non-judgmental, interested and interesting men I know Stuart Bowman, London <a class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=5911&edition=1">Send your message to Alan</a>

At a special link-up between Television Centre and Gaza on Monday, the BBC Director General Mark Thompson described Alan Johnston as "one of those amazing BBC people who make extraordinary sacrifices and take considerable risks because they believe a story needs to be told".

"All of us in London and in Gaza want him home," Mr Thompson told about 100 journalists and members of staff.

Mr Johnston has been the BBC's correspondent in the Gaza Strip for the past three years - and the only foreign journalist from a major media organisation based in Gaza.

The BBC describes him as a highly experienced and respected reporter.

Aged 44, he was born in Tanzania and educated in Scotland.

He joined the BBC World Service in 1991 and has spent eight of the last 16 years as a correspondent, including periods in Uzbekistan and Afghanistan.