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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Multi-faith appeal for Johnston | Multi-faith appeal for Johnston |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| A multi-faith service is being held to call for the safe return of BBC Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston. | |
| People from different religious communities are gathering for the vigil at St Martin in the Fields, one of London's best known churches. | |
| Later, London Mayor Ken Livingstone will make a public appeal for information on Arab TV. | Later, London Mayor Ken Livingstone will make a public appeal for information on Arab TV. |
| Mr Johnston, 44, has not been seen since he was seized at gunpoint on his way home in Gaza City on 12 March. | Mr Johnston, 44, has not been seen since he was seized at gunpoint on his way home in Gaza City on 12 March. |
| National interest | National interest |
| The service is taking place in the church in central London and afterwards the congregation had planned to gather in Trafalgar Square to observe a silence. | |
| Instead, because of poor weather, the silence will be held on the church portico. | |
| Imam Dr Abdul-Jalil Sajid, who is taking part in the service, said: "We need to show our solidarity together, as a multi-faith... to hope that the kidnappers - maybe Christian, maybe Muslim, maybe anybody else - listen to us and release Alan very soon." | Imam Dr Abdul-Jalil Sajid, who is taking part in the service, said: "We need to show our solidarity together, as a multi-faith... to hope that the kidnappers - maybe Christian, maybe Muslim, maybe anybody else - listen to us and release Alan very soon." |
| Rabbi Mark Winer, of the West London synagogue, who is also attending, said the kidnap of any journalist was a matter that transcended politics. | |
| "People of every religion, race and background in the United Kingdom are concerned about his welfare and insist that regardless of their political motives, that the kidnapping of journalists is something that is utterly unacceptable in any part of our world." | "People of every religion, race and background in the United Kingdom are concerned about his welfare and insist that regardless of their political motives, that the kidnapping of journalists is something that is utterly unacceptable in any part of our world." |
| We need to show our solidarity together Imam Dr Abdul-Jalil Sajid | We need to show our solidarity together Imam Dr Abdul-Jalil Sajid |
| BBC world news editor Jon Williams said he hoped the service would send an important message to Alan Johnston's captors. | BBC world news editor Jon Williams said he hoped the service would send an important message to Alan Johnston's captors. |
| "More than anything else, we want the message to go out that Alan's abduction is not only abhorred by those who follow Christian tradition, it is also abhorred by Muslims across the world and people of the Jewish faith, and indeed people of no faith. | "More than anything else, we want the message to go out that Alan's abduction is not only abhorred by those who follow Christian tradition, it is also abhorred by Muslims across the world and people of the Jewish faith, and indeed people of no faith. |
| "And by joining together in London, we hope that message will go out loud and clear that we want him returned safe and well, as quickly as possible." | "And by joining together in London, we hope that message will go out loud and clear that we want him returned safe and well, as quickly as possible." |
| Mr Livingstone will appeal for information during a live broadcast on Arab station Al Hiwar TV. | Mr Livingstone will appeal for information during a live broadcast on Arab station Al Hiwar TV. |
| Immediate release appeal | Immediate release appeal |
| The station said the broadcast would also include words from a number of British MPs, political and religious leaders from the Arab and Muslim worlds and leaders of the Muslim community in Britain. | The station said the broadcast would also include words from a number of British MPs, political and religious leaders from the Arab and Muslim worlds and leaders of the Muslim community in Britain. |
| Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has insisted Mr Johnston is alive. | Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has insisted Mr Johnston is alive. |
| And Hamas political leader Khaled Mishal has appealed for the immediate release of Mr Johnston. | And Hamas political leader Khaled Mishal has appealed for the immediate release of Mr Johnston. |
| Speaking in Damascus, Mr Mishal said the kidnappers were harming the national interest of the Palestinian people. | Speaking in Damascus, Mr Mishal said the kidnappers were harming the national interest of the Palestinian people. |
| An unknown militant group said a week ago that it had killed the correspondent, who has been working in the Gaza Strip for the past three years, but the BBC and Palestinian officials have said they have been unable to verify the claim. | An unknown militant group said a week ago that it had killed the correspondent, who has been working in the Gaza Strip for the past three years, but the BBC and Palestinian officials have said they have been unable to verify the claim. |