This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/6556147.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Union calls for BBC man's release | Union calls for BBC man's release |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The UK's National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has strongly condemned the abduction of BBC reporter Alan Johnston in Gaza more than a month ago. | The UK's National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has strongly condemned the abduction of BBC reporter Alan Johnston in Gaza more than a month ago. |
| Delegates voted unanimously to support the campaign to free him at their annual conference in Birmingham. | Delegates voted unanimously to support the campaign to free him at their annual conference in Birmingham. |
| Jon Williams, editor of BBC World News, said: "Alan stayed when everyone else left because he believed that the story of Gaza must be told." | |
| The BBC held a day of action on Thursday to highlight his plight. | The BBC held a day of action on Thursday to highlight his plight. |
| 'Calmness and courage' | 'Calmness and courage' |
| Mr Johnston is presumed to have been abducted when he disappeared on 12 March after leaving his Gaza office. | Mr Johnston is presumed to have been abducted when he disappeared on 12 March after leaving his Gaza office. |
| Mr Williams told a packed hall that, as every day passed, concern for the reporter's physical and mental wellbeing was growing. | |
| But he paid tribute to his calmness and courage and said he was an example of the need to be able to report freely. | But he paid tribute to his calmness and courage and said he was an example of the need to be able to report freely. |
| Mr Johnston was due to finish his posting in March | Mr Johnston was due to finish his posting in March |
| General Secretary Jeremy Dear read a message from the Palestinian Journalists' Syndicate (PJS) detailing solidarity marches and other demonstrations held in Gaza in an attempt to free the BBC correspondent. | General Secretary Jeremy Dear read a message from the Palestinian Journalists' Syndicate (PJS) detailing solidarity marches and other demonstrations held in Gaza in an attempt to free the BBC correspondent. |
| An online petition calling for the release Mr Johnston gathered more than 30,000 signatures before it was closed on Friday. | An online petition calling for the release Mr Johnston gathered more than 30,000 signatures before it was closed on Friday. |
| The 44-year-old 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. | The 44-year-old 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 has lived and worked in Gaza for three years and was the only Western reporter permanently based in the often violent and lawless territory. | He has lived and worked in Gaza for three years and was the only Western reporter permanently based in the often violent and lawless territory. |
| His posting in Gaza had been due to end in late March. | His posting in Gaza had been due to end in late March. |