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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| BBC users urge reporter's release | BBC users urge reporter's release |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| BBC News website users have written in their thousands in support of an online petition to demand the release of BBC Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston. | |
| Mr Johnston disappeared on 12 March and is feared kidnapped, although there has been no claim of responsibility. | Mr Johnston disappeared on 12 March and is feared kidnapped, although there has been no claim of responsibility. |
| The public petition was started on the day a newspaper advert was published urging his release backed by hundreds of colleagues and media personalities. | The public petition was started on the day a newspaper advert was published urging his release backed by hundreds of colleagues and media personalities. |
| Palestinian journalists also went on strike, boycotting government business. | Palestinian journalists also went on strike, boycotting government business. |
| They want the government to do more to secure the release of Mr Johnston, believed to be the only western journalist still working full-time in the Gaza Strip since a wave of kidnappings last year. | They want the government to do more to secure the release of Mr Johnston, believed to be the only western journalist still working full-time in the Gaza Strip since a wave of kidnappings last year. |
| Reassuring voice | Reassuring voice |
| At the time of writing, more than 3,500 people have responded to the online appeal, with new names being added every few minutes. | |
| Nothing good will come from the continued detention of Alan. Please release him CY Lim, Singapore The appeal says: "We, the undersigned, demand the immediate release of BBC Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston. | Nothing good will come from the continued detention of Alan. Please release him CY Lim, Singapore The appeal says: "We, the undersigned, demand the immediate release of BBC Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston. |
| "We ask again that everyone with influence on this situation increase their efforts, to ensure that Alan is freed quickly and unharmed." | "We ask again that everyone with influence on this situation increase their efforts, to ensure that Alan is freed quickly and unharmed." |
| BBC Interactivity assistant editor Matthew Eltringham said: "There has been a hugely positive response to our petition, and a strong message in support of Alan, with people emailing from all over the world." | BBC Interactivity assistant editor Matthew Eltringham said: "There has been a hugely positive response to our petition, and a strong message in support of Alan, with people emailing from all over the world." |
| Website users have also taken the opportunity to send messages of support for the missing correspondent. | Website users have also taken the opportunity to send messages of support for the missing correspondent. |
| "I remember Alan best by his calm and very reassuring voice over the air from half a world away," wrote CY Lim, of Singapore. | "I remember Alan best by his calm and very reassuring voice over the air from half a world away," wrote CY Lim, of Singapore. |
| "Nothing good will come from the continued detention of Alan. Please release him." | "Nothing good will come from the continued detention of Alan. Please release him." |
| Senior BBC colleagues of Mr Johnston have appealed to Palestinian leaders including the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haniya. | Senior BBC colleagues of Mr Johnston have appealed to Palestinian leaders including the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haniya. |
| Both have said everything possible is being done to free Mr Johnston. | Both have said everything possible is being done to free Mr Johnston. |
| The BBC describes him as a highly experienced and respected reporter. | The BBC describes him as a highly experienced and respected reporter. |
| 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. | 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. |