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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| BBC to mark Johnston's birthday | BBC to mark Johnston's birthday |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| BBC Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston is spending his 45th birthday in captivity after being kidnapped nine weeks ago. | BBC Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston is spending his 45th birthday in captivity after being kidnapped nine weeks ago. |
| Vigils to mark it will be held by the BBC in London, Tehran, Moscow, Hong Kong and Ramallah. | |
| Mr Johnston's family in Scotland has recorded a birthday greeting, hoping he can access it on radio or television. | |
| The journalist was abducted at gunpoint in Gaza City on 12 March. His birthday comes as renewed fighting erupts between Palestinian factions in Gaza. | |
| The BBC said the deteriorating situation was worrying but everything was being done to secure Mr Johnston's release. | The BBC said the deteriorating situation was worrying but everything was being done to secure Mr Johnston's release. |
| "It is particularly sad that he cannot celebrate his birthday... with the people close to him," said BBC director-general Mark Thompson. | "It is particularly sad that he cannot celebrate his birthday... with the people close to him," said BBC director-general Mark Thompson. |
| "Across the BBC, I know there are thousands of Alan's friends and colleagues all fervently hoping that he is safe and will soon be free to return home to his family." | "Across the BBC, I know there are thousands of Alan's friends and colleagues all fervently hoping that he is safe and will soon be free to return home to his family." |
| Petition | Petition |
| Meanwhile radical Islamist cleric Abu Qatada, who is being detained in Britain, has reportedly offered to assist efforts to secure Mr Johnson's release. | Meanwhile radical Islamist cleric Abu Qatada, who is being detained in Britain, has reportedly offered to assist efforts to secure Mr Johnson's release. |
| The Islamic Observatory Centre, a London-based organisation, said it had received a letter from Mr Qatada saying he was ready to travel with a BBC delegation to Gaza. | The Islamic Observatory Centre, a London-based organisation, said it had received a letter from Mr Qatada saying he was ready to travel with a BBC delegation to Gaza. |
| The British Foreign Office said it was unaware of the letter. | The British Foreign Office said it was unaware of the letter. |
| A tape allegedly made by his kidnappers - a group calling itself Jaish al-Islam (Army of Islam) - was released last week. | A tape allegedly made by his kidnappers - a group calling itself Jaish al-Islam (Army of Islam) - was released last week. |
| It showed his BBC ID card and demanded the release of Muslim prisoners in British jails. | It showed his BBC ID card and demanded the release of Muslim prisoners in British jails. |
| The abduction of Mr Johnston, the only Western reporter permanently based in Gaza, has triggered appeals for his release from lawmakers and rights groups around the world. | The abduction of Mr Johnston, the only Western reporter permanently based in Gaza, has triggered appeals for his release from lawmakers and rights groups around the world. |
| Last week, Mr Johnston was named broadcast journalist of the year by the London Press Club for his work reporting from the Gaza Strip. | Last week, Mr Johnston was named broadcast journalist of the year by the London Press Club for his work reporting from the Gaza Strip. |
| An online petition calling for Mr Johnston's release has so far been signed by 93,000 people. | An online petition calling for Mr Johnston's release has so far been signed by 93,000 people. |