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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| BBC marks Alan Johnston birthday | |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| BBC Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston is spending his 45th birthday in captivity after being kidnapped nine weeks ago, amid continuing fighting in Gaza. | BBC Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston is spending his 45th birthday in captivity after being kidnapped nine weeks ago, amid continuing fighting in Gaza. |
| Vigils to mark it will be held by the BBC in London, Tehran, Moscow, Hong Kong and Ramallah. | Vigils to mark it will be held by the BBC in London, Tehran, Moscow, Hong Kong and Ramallah. |
| Meanwhile, an Islamic cleric detained in the UK, Abu Qatada, has reportedly offered to travel to Gaza to help secure Mr Johnston's release. | Meanwhile, an Islamic cleric detained in the UK, Abu Qatada, has reportedly offered to travel to Gaza to help secure Mr Johnston's release. |
| The journalist was abducted at gunpoint in Gaza City on 12 March. | The journalist was abducted at gunpoint in Gaza City on 12 March. |
| The BBC said the deteriorating security situation in Gaza in recent days was worrying but everything was being done to secure Mr Johnston's release. | The BBC said the deteriorating security situation in Gaza in recent days was worrying but everything was being done to secure Mr Johnston's release. |
| Thousands of Alan's friends and colleagues [are] all fervently hoping that he is safe and will soon be free Mark ThompsonBBC director general Mr Johnston's family in Scotland has recorded a birthday greeting, hoping he can access it on radio or television. | Thousands of Alan's friends and colleagues [are] all fervently hoping that he is safe and will soon be free Mark ThompsonBBC director general Mr Johnston's family in Scotland has recorded a birthday greeting, hoping he can access it on radio or television. |
| "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 |
| The Islamic Observatory Centre, a London-based organisation, said it had received a letter from Abu Qatada, the radical cleric, saying he was ready to travel with a BBC delegation to Gaza and contact the captors. | The Islamic Observatory Centre, a London-based organisation, said it had received a letter from Abu Qatada, the radical cleric, saying he was ready to travel with a BBC delegation to Gaza and contact the captors. |
| The British Foreign Office said it was unaware of the letter. | The British Foreign Office said it was unaware of the letter. |
| ALAN JOHNSTON PETITION More than 90,000 people have written to the BBC to demand Alan Johnston's release Add your name Send messages of support | |
| A tape allegedly made by Mr Johnston's kidnappers - a group calling itself Jaish al-Islam (Army of Islam) - was released last week. | A tape allegedly made by Mr Johnston's 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. |