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Rallies held for BBC's Johnston Rallies held for BBC's Johnston
(about 2 hours later)
Rallies have been organised around the world in support of Alan Johnston, the BBC journalist kidnapped in Gaza, to coincide with World Press Freedom Day.Rallies have been organised around the world in support of Alan Johnston, the BBC journalist kidnapped in Gaza, to coincide with World Press Freedom Day.
Vigils were planned by journalists in China and Indonesia to call for the release of Mr Johnston, who has been missing for more than seven weeks. Vigils were planned by journalists in London, China and Indonesia to call for the release of Mr Johnston, who has been missing for more than seven weeks.
British colleagues planned a vigil at a London church. A rally is also due to take place at the UN's headquarters in New York.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expressed alarm at the growing trend of journalists being targeted. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has expressed alarm at the growing trend of journalists being targeted.
"Most alarmingly, in seeking to shed light on the plight of others, journalists themselves become targets," he said."Most alarmingly, in seeking to shed light on the plight of others, journalists themselves become targets," he said.
"This happens not just in the midst of armed conflict, but also in pursuit of stories on corruption, poverty and abuse of power.""This happens not just in the midst of armed conflict, but also in pursuit of stories on corruption, poverty and abuse of power."
He said he had been following "with dismay" the case of Mr Johnston, and again appealed for his immediate and safe release.He said he had been following "with dismay" the case of Mr Johnston, and again appealed for his immediate and safe release.
Dangerous jobDangerous job
Journalists in Beijing were set to gather at sunset to light candles and hold a minute's silence for the BBC's Gaza correspondent, who was seized after leaving his office in Gaza City on 12 March. In the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, reporters, diplomats and human rights activists gathered in a park at dusk and lit candles in support of Mr Johnston's release. A British embassy official read out a message from Mr Johnston's father, Graham.
In the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, reporters, diplomats and human rights activists were to show their support with a rally. "There is so much sympathy for our plight around the globe and we are overwhelmed at such support, all of which has helped to buoy us during these past seemingly interminable weeks," the letter said.
Journalists in Beijing also gathered at sunset to light candles and hold a minute's silence for Mr Johnston, who was seized after leaving his office in Gaza City on 12 March.
In New York, BBC News World Editor Jon Williams and Martin Bashir from US TV network ABC News will speak at a rally to be held at the UN at 1400 (1800 GMT).
Meanwhile, journalists protested against attacks and obstruction in their own countries.Meanwhile, journalists protested against attacks and obstruction in their own countries.
The Media Alliance of Zimbabwe urged the government to scrap tough media laws, which it said led to "intimidation, harassment and unlawful arrests, detention and torture of journalists".The Media Alliance of Zimbabwe urged the government to scrap tough media laws, which it said led to "intimidation, harassment and unlawful arrests, detention and torture of journalists".
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe recalled the unsolved murder of three journalists in Serbia, saying the cases could "lead to self-censorship by journalists who fear the state is not able to protect them".The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe recalled the unsolved murder of three journalists in Serbia, saying the cases could "lead to self-censorship by journalists who fear the state is not able to protect them".
Robert Mahoney of the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists said: "It used to be that a press pass was a passport to going into a country and a certain status, now a press pass is a liability."Robert Mahoney of the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists said: "It used to be that a press pass was a passport to going into a country and a certain status, now a press pass is a liability."
He said most journalists killed on duty now are murdered, rather than caught in the cross-fire.He said most journalists killed on duty now are murdered, rather than caught in the cross-fire.