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| BBC's concern at Gaza man's fate | BBC's concern at Gaza man's fate |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A Palestinian group calling itself the Al Tawhid Al Jihad brigade has issued a claim that it has killed BBC Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston. | A Palestinian group calling itself the Al Tawhid Al Jihad brigade has issued a claim that it has killed BBC Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston. |
| The BBC says it is aware of the reports and is deeply concerned, but stresses there is no independent verification. | The BBC says it is aware of the reports and is deeply concerned, but stresses there is no independent verification. |
| In a statement faxed to news agencies, the group contrasts the attention given to Alan Johnston's captivity with that given to Palestinians held in prison. | In a statement faxed to news agencies, the group contrasts the attention given to Alan Johnston's captivity with that given to Palestinians held in prison. |
| Mr Johnston was abducted as he returned home from his Gaza office on 12 March. | Mr Johnston was abducted as he returned home from his Gaza office on 12 March. |
| The BBC has issued a statement saying it is deeply concerned about what it is hearing. | The BBC has issued a statement saying it is deeply concerned about what it is hearing. |
| "But we stress that at this stage," it says, "it is rumour with no independent verification". | "But we stress that at this stage," it says, "it is rumour with no independent verification". |
| The Palestinian Authority said it, too, had no information confirming the fate of Alan Johnston. | The Palestinian Authority said it, too, had no information confirming the fate of Alan Johnston. |
| A spokeswoman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London said they were also aware of the reports and were urgently looking into them. | A spokeswoman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London said they were also aware of the reports and were urgently looking into them. |
| The group claiming to have killed Mr Johnston is apparently little known in the Palestinian context, the BBC's Mike Wooldridge says. | The group claiming to have killed Mr Johnston is apparently little known in the Palestinian context, the BBC's Mike Wooldridge says. |
| Its name means Brigades of Holy War and Unity. | Its name means Brigades of Holy War and Unity. |
| Protests | Protests |
| Since Mr Johnston's abduction, there have been many calls by both governments and individuals for his safe release. | Since Mr Johnston's abduction, there have been many calls by both governments and individuals for his safe release. |
| Palestinian journalists staged several strikes in protest at his abduction and rallies were organised by Mr Johnston's BBC colleagues. | Palestinian journalists staged several strikes in protest at his abduction and rallies were organised by Mr Johnston's BBC colleagues. |
| There have been numerous appeals for Mr Johnston's safe release | There have been numerous appeals for Mr Johnston's safe release |
| The BBC held a day of action on Thursday with al-Jazeera, CNN and Sky News joining a special live programme. | The BBC held a day of action on Thursday with al-Jazeera, CNN and Sky News joining a special live programme. |
| The unprecedented broadcast paid tribute to Alan Johnston's work and detailed the dangers for correspondents working in the Gaza Strip. | The unprecedented broadcast paid tribute to Alan Johnston's work and detailed the dangers for correspondents working in the Gaza Strip. |
| An online petition calling for Mr Johnston's release has gathered more than 30,000 signatures. | |
| Alan Johnston's father, Graham, in a second broadcast appeal for his son to be freed immediately, told his kidnappers: "Please think about what this is doing to my family". | Alan Johnston's father, Graham, in a second broadcast appeal for his son to be freed immediately, told his kidnappers: "Please think about what this is doing to my family". |
| Kidnappers have abducted dozens of foreigners in Gaza, but none have been held for as long as Mr Johnston. | Kidnappers have abducted dozens of foreigners in Gaza, but none have been held for as long as Mr Johnston. |
| The 44-year-old, who is originally from Scotland, 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, who is originally from Scotland, 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. |